Riders Onthe Storm emerged the winner of the Ascot Chase after Cyrname suffered a fall near the end. Cyrname was everyone’s favourite and was billed to win the race before falling near the end.

The race started with Cyrname taking charge, leading the pack. It maintained its lead until it fell when it got near the last two fences. Traffic Fluide, the next horse behind Cyrname, sought to finish the race as the winner, but it also fell at the last fence. Riders Onthe Storm took the opportunity to emerge the winner. Traffic Fluide was quick to get up, as Cryname followed suit amidst cheers.

This would be Riders Onthe Storm’s first Grade One victory since joining Nigel Twiston-Davies. Nigel describes the win as a “jump in grade”, also explaining how being the winner must have made the horse tired, particularly beating Cyrname.

He admitted that before the race, he was hoping for a second-place spot, as he was not expecting to win Cyrname. He also expressed his gratitude to the horse’s former trainer, Tom Taffee, who he said did a good job on him. Riders Onthe Storm was ridden by Nigel’s brother, Sam Twiston-Davies.

Cyrname’s trainer Paul Nicholls confirmed that the horse was okay after the fall. He said the horse just got winded but there was nothing seriously wrong with the horse. He further suggested that they leave the horse till next season. Cyrname was the horse that ended Altoir’s winning streak last year and has been performing great ever since, till its defeat at King George.

It was observable that Cyrname was not in the best form during the race as it seemed heavy and had difficulty moving at some point but Nicholls’s assurance that the horse was okay suggests that the horse was simply not in the best shape. Nicholls’s suggestion that the horse should wait till next season seems the best option.

Written by: Leon Osamor