No masking Zorro's promise

El Zorro overcame an absence of 658 days and landed a small touch with a last-grasp success in the toteplacepot Novices’ Handicap Hurdle at Warwick.

The meeting got the go-ahead despite a deluge of rain on Friday and the runners came home tired in the heavy ground.

But Neil King’s seven-year-old – who was backed in from 12-1 to 9s at the off - coped admirably well and came from off the pace to lead on the run-in and deny Omme Antique by a short head.

King said: “I am thrilled to bits – the plan was to win today and then come back next year for the Classic Chase!

“We have had him since September. The first time he cantered we knew we had a proper horse and he has confirmed that.

“He is a smashing horse. He will go chasing next year and that really will be his game.”