Mark Of Gold makes the most of Personal Ambition slip

Mark Of Gold made a winning debut over fences in an eventful renewal of the Howden Noel Novices’ Chase at Ascot.

Although the winner of seven races over hurdles and three on the Flat, the Gary and Josh Moore-trained seven-year-old looked to have plenty on his plate making his fencing bow at Grade Two level and was an 11-2 outsider of four come the off.

Personal Ambition and Rare Edition were the two at the head of affairs for much of the two-mile-three-furlong journey, with an early mistake from 13-8 favourite Johnnywho quickly putting him on the back foot and he never really recovered.

After seeing off Rare Edition, Personal Ambition looked to have the upper hand over the staying-on Mark Of Gold on the approach to the final fence, but the leader dived badly at the obstacle, leaving jockey Ben Jones with both hands off the reins and he ultimately did well to keep the partnership intact.

Whether that error made the difference between winning and losing is uncertain, but it definitely cost Personal Ambition crucial momentum and left the door open for Mark Of Gold to claim the advantage and pass the post two and a quarter lengths to the good under Caoilin Quinn.

Having looked set to be tailed off at one stage, Johnnywho did make some late headway to beat a fading Rare Edition to third place.

Of the winner, Josh Moore said: “He’s a good horse, we were confident coming here. It’s a big thing to do, first time over fences around Ascot, it’s a tricky track to jump round.

“It was a small field and it was just like running in a normal novice chase, but you can’t get them anymore, you’d rather start here and give the horse a good experience.

“We’ve done that, he’s picked up a good prize in doing it. He is a good horse and I was quietly confident.”

Considering future plans, the joint-trainer added: “He’s a versatile horse, he happily switches back to the Flat, goes on slow ground, he’s competitive over hurdles and he’s obviously competitive over fences.

“He’s jumped so well around here today and that’s a big thing first time over fences.

“We’ll have to seriously look at plans over fences now because he’s taken to them so well. He made one mistake but he made the mistake he needed to help him learn.”

When asked whether he felt the final fence mistake cost Personal Ambition victory, his trainer Ben Pauling said: “I think so, yes.

“It’s unfortunate as he jumped really well for him. He was just on absolutely no stride and how Ben stayed intact I do not know.

“He did pick up again, so I don’t think he was cooked, but that’s racing, you have to jump and he didn’t.”