Windsor: Protectorate surpasses £1m mark with Fleur de Lys Chase to defend crown | Race News

Harry Skelton hailed Protectorat as a “hero” after successfully defending his title in the Fitzdares Fleur de Lys Chase at Windsor.

The 11-year-old won by 23 lengths in the £165,000 race last season and although it was his toughest 12 months, he refused to be beaten.

Quickly darting to the front, Dan Skelton’s veteran went with gusto that defied his advancing years throughout the two-mile-six-furlong contest and galloped boldly to add heat to the chasing pack.

Fans of the evens favorite will have been worried when he was joined by Handstands approaching the second fence from home, but Protectorat found the challenge once and was clearly powered into the run to beat Resplendent Gray by three and three lengths.

The successful rider insisted on returning to the place that was meant for the winner which was not open on Sunday because of the mud, he said: “All these people came here to see him and I wanted to welcome him in the way he deserves.

“This is a run at its best, Protectorat is a hero and now a millionaire – he broke the £1million barrier there.

“He’s the hardest jockey I’ve ever ridden and he’s just hard to handle. He likes to run on the left and he runs with his head to one side. He has to go left and he can’t be too quick, but he’s got the constitution and he wants to win.

“He’s amazing, he’s tough and when I jumped three I knew he was going to win as he’s been in fights before. He’s older than last year and he’s 11 now, but he doesn’t know that and he still thinks he’s seven years old.”

Skelton added: “Dan’s gone and I’m not sure what we’re doing now. Ged (Mason, part owner) is gone and Lisa and Pat (Hales) are probably watching Aston Villa, but I can tell you they’ll be enjoying themselves wherever they are and John Hales will be looking down very proudly.”

“What this horse has done for our family, me and Dan and Bridget – he probably had one of the best days of his riding career – will always be special. And for the owners, to have a horse that won a Grade One, over £1million in money and keeps coming back is amazing.

“Whatever happens, we will always remember the Protectorate.”

Salver is the strongest of Hampton’s rivals

Salver got the better of a long-running duel with Doyen Quest to claim victory in the LSL Racing Auctions Hampton Novices’ Chase.

Saved from last weekend’s abandoned meeting at Warwick, the revamped Grade Two attracted a quality field of six runners, with Gary and Josh Moore’s Esher Novices’ Chase winner Salver the 7-5 favorite to bounce back from a disappointing run to better place in the Kauto Star at Kempton on Boxing Day.

Harry Skelton tried to break the news on Doyen Quest at the start of the three-mile contest, but was joined first by Moon Rocket before Salver’s rider Caoilin Quinn stepped up by allowing his mount to challenge for the lead.

With Wade Out running up to snuff and Jericho Du Reponet unable to mount a sustained challenge, Salver and Doyen Quest had it between them running over the last two fences and in the cheek pieces for the first time, it was Moore’s runner who finished well to score by four and a quarter lengths.

Gary Moore said: “The field was good and he did well to win because it was quick work after Kempton came here.

“I don’t think Windsor suited him and he was off the back early on, then he ran and I was wondering what Caoilin was doing as he is a really involved horse.

“It just goes to show that he’s a big-hearted, genuine horse and he’s trying hard. He’s had three runs in one race and he’s still winning, so well done to him.”

Paddy Power has cut Salver’s chances in the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase at the Cheltenham Festival to 33-1 from 40-1, but Moore has warned that his participation will be highly dependent.

He added: “It was too fast for him at Kempton and he needs to put his toe in. He shouldn’t have run at Kempton, but he won very well at Sandown in the time before we went on.

“He ran behind the reins at Kempton so we’re putting our cheekbones today, he can just run lazily.

“I think people will want him to go to Cheltenham now but he’s going to need a quick warm-up for me. The world can turn overnight in that place, so you never know.

“Maybe we’ll rest him now and head there.”