Lough Derg fine winner of National Spirit Hurdle

He is the jockey's favourite horse and Tom Scudamore was unable to hold back the tears after Lough Derg handed out a two- length defeat to Alan King's My Way De Solzen.

The horse had turned for home 15 lengths off the lead and dug deep to secure victory in the final yards of the race. He is now 14 points clear in the Order of Merit and will head to Cheltenham, Aintree and possible Ayr in a bid to win it.

"He is a very special horse and he has as big a heart as any I've ridden," said Scudamore.

"All he ever wants to do is battle, please you and give you more. He was flat out there against some very, very good horses, but he is so gutsy and never gave up.

"You just keep pushing and kicking him and he keeps finding. He really is a special little fellow."

Alan King was pleased with the performance of My Way de Solzen, who heads for the Ladbrokes World Hurdle, which he won two years ago.

He said:"That was his first proper race of the season, and I will be disappointed if he doesn't come on for it - it will definitely have blown away the cobwebs."

There was plenty of local interest at Fontwell, with Gary Moore securing a double, initiated by old-timer Tikram in Fontwell's The horse has been back with Moore this season, having been with Alan King for a while in an attempt to rejuvenate him.

Tikram had not won for almost three years. Now 11, he set out in Fontwell's Totesport 20,000 handicap chase with Jamie Moore on board and came home 23 lengths clear of the remainder of the field.

He took his track record to four wins from fourt starts with the victory and jockey Jamie Moore advised joint-owner Rodger Sargent to retire the horse on a high note.

"He owes us nothing," he said of the horse, which won the 2004 Mildmay of Flete Chase.

Sargent said: "I'll speak with Gary. I've had Tikram since he was three and if he is retired he will join my other Cheltenham Festival winner Top Cees at my place near Market Rasen."

Tikram is entered for the Racing Post Plate at Cheltenham, where his odds have been slashed to 16-1, but that race will be much more competitive.

The other half of the Moore double was Trigger Guard in the handicap hurdle ,who had useful form as a novice but injury interrupted his career. He returned for his first run in just over two years at Kempton earlier this month with an encouraging fourth. He is young enough at six to take up the threads of his racing career again. If he stays sound he should go on to win more.

Nick Gifford, who had the disappointment of seeing Wee Robbie pulled up on Saturday after breaking a blood vessel, resumed his good run at Fontwell when his Ashleys Petale won the maiden National Hunt Flat Race, making all the running.

The five-year-old had an infamous start to her career having been banned from racing for 40 days when making her debut at Fontwell in November. Stewards felt she had been restrained in the rear throughout that race.

She subsequently had a good third at Huntingdon and her performance at Fontwell suggests she will go on to win over hurdles.

The next meeting at Fontwell Park is on Wednesday March 5.