Katate Dori and Charlie Deutsch shine in Ladbrokes Trophy

Charlie Deutsch delivered a riding masterclass as he steered Katate Dori to a runaway victory in the Ladbrokes Trophy Handicap Chase.

Trained by Sam Thomas, the seven-year-old arrived in fine heart having won two of his last three starts and he was ridden with supreme confidence by Deutsch over the three-mile trip.

Beachcomber set the early pace, but Deutsch made his move to take closer order heading past the stands for the first time, with 11-2 shot Katate Dori seemingly enjoying a slight drop back in distance.

Deutsch decided to kick for home turning in and Katate Dori shot clear, leaving his rivals standing and quickly building up an unassailable lead. His rider was able to take two long looks over his shoulder after the last two fences and ease his mount down a few strides before the line to coast home by 15 lengths from the Nicky Henderson’s staying-on Hyland, who had come from a fair way back.

The winner’s stablemate Our Power – the winner in 2023 and runner-up 12 months ago – was a further 11 lengths back in third.

Thomas said: “It’s a great race to come and compete in with huge prize-money and I’m just really lucky I have the horses to do so, so huge credit to the boss (Dai Walters) for giving me the opportunity to train these horses.

“As a trainer there is nothing better seeing your horse enjoying himself like he was. If you had a horse at the top of the handicap carrying 12st doing that you would be concerned, but knowing he only had 10st 5lb on his back it was quite an enjoyable watch because in theory he should have always kept going.

“I could see Hyland getting a little bit closer and it was only after the last I was confident he had won. I was down near the line and Charlie gave me a good roar as he went past.

“I’m a terrible watcher and can’t stand in the stands. It’s not very sociable, but I like to have a quiet moment on my own watching. It’s nice to be down there close to the action.”

The win enhances Thomas’ excellent recent record in this prestigious contest and the man who steered Denman to Cheltenham Gold Cup success admits it is the major winners he craves most.

He added: “The Saturdays are when you want to win and I was similar to that towards my latter days as a jockey when I was riding. I didn’t get a real kick out of going to the smaller meetings and I know it’s not the attitude to have – and I’m not saying it is the same with training – but these big days are what it is all about.

“When you get to Sandown and the end-of-season meeting you get depressed as there is nothing to look forward to for a few months and I’ve been excited for this for weeks as this has been the plan for both Katate Dori and Our Power.

“You really look forward to these big races. There is a lot of pressure preparing these horses for these races, but we have an amazing team who do a brilliant job behind the scenes.

“Dylan Johnston does a lot of work with both these horses and had the choice today and chose Our Power, but he needs a huge amount of credit and I feel a bit for him. But it’s great to come and win on the big day and pick up some good prize-money.

“The winner is entered in the National Hunt Chase, the Ultima and the Kim Muir, so we’ll definitely take a look at one of those.”

Henderson, meanwhile, had a twinkle in his eye after his 11-4 favourite Hyland rallied to finish second having been out the back after the first circuit.

The Seven Barrows handler left Kempton dreaming of a first victory in the Randox Grand National having been thrilled with the eight-year-old’s Aintree prep.

Henderson said: “He’s run a fantastic race and it is all we could have asked for, as he absolutely hates that ground. It’s like asking me to eat kale. It was foul.

“He’s just not a bad ground horse and basically up to know he’s just been jumping out the gate and bowling along on his own. Today he had to get in a ruck and didn’t know where he was and couldn’t lay up with them early on.

“But I love the way he fought and on good ground and another mile, then it gets you dreaming. After a circuit I thought the dream was over and a circuit later it is very much still alive.”