Defi Du Seuil beats Un De Sceaux at Ascot

Defi Du Seuil has usurped Altior as Champion Chase favourite after a dominant defeat of Un De Sceaux at Ascot.

The seven-year-old, trained by Philip Hobbs for owner JP McManus, won the Clarence House Chase by two and three quarter lengths.

Defi Du Seuil is now as low as 7-4 with bookmakers for the Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham in March.

Ballyandy beat Pentland Hills by a nose in Haydock's Champion Hurdle trial.

Pentland Hills was in front jumping the last but Sam Twiston-Davies - riding for his trainer father Nigel - conjured a great run out of Ballyandy (5-2) to pip last season's Triumph Hurdle hero.

It was a second last-gasp victory for the jockey after winning on Stolen Silver earlier on the card.

Vintage Clouds ran out an impressive winner of the Peter Marsh Chase for trainer Sue Smith.

Defi Du Seuil had narrowly beaten the 12-year-old Un De Sceaux in the Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown last month, and confirmed the form in emphatic fashion.

The 11-10 joint-favourite, under Barry Geraghty, pulled away from his market rival between the final two obstacles to win again, with Marracudja third.

"Obviously we were very hopeful we might win again, but I couldn't imagine he was going to win that easily," said Somerset trainer Hobbs.