UN De Sceaux completed a hat-trick of Royal Salute Whisky Clarence House Chase wins at Ascot on Saturday, taking his career earnings past £1million in the process, writes Dave Wright.

The 10-year-old, ridden by Paul Townend and trained by Willie Mullins in Ireland, finished seven lengths clear of Speredek, who had led the five runners by 12 lengths at one stage.

Un De Sceaux closed the gap rounding the final bend and, with Nick Henderson’s Brain Power falling at the penultimate fence, the 4-9 favourite drew away for a comfortable victory, the 20th of his career and eighth in Grade One races.

“He has a massive heart,” said Townend.

Mullins wasn’t at Ascot, but speaking from Ireland he said: “To do that three years running on two different tracks (last year’s race was at Cheltenham) on what looked very tacky ground is great.”

Un De Sceaux’s part-owner Colm O’Connell added: “Any time you make history, it is special. It was a magnificent performance. It’s a very special day for everyone.”

Trainer Nigel Hawke was delighted with Speredek’s first effort in such elevated company, commenting: “It was a super run. He did everything right and you couldn’t wish for more, barring a win. We have been beaten by one of the top horses.”

Lambourn trainer Henderson reported second-favourite Brain Power to be suffering from a breathing issue before he fell and said jockey Nico De Boinville believed the noise he was making sounded like a soft palate malfunction.

“We will look further into that,” said Henderson, who earlier had visited the winner’s enclosure with Jenkins (5/1) after the Ascot Spring Garden Show Holloway’s Handicap Hurdle.

It also meant another big-race success for conditional jockey James Bowen following his wins in the Welsh Grand National and the Lanzarote Hurdle on the previous two Saturdays.

There was more success for the Bowen family when Vindication (2/1 co-fav) took the afternoon’s final race, the Rosling King British EBF “National Hunt” Novices’ Hurdle.

Warren Greateux’s seven-year-old La Bague Au Roi (8/11fav) extended her winning run to four by taking the lbg.com Mares’ Hurdle in the mud.

In the day’s opening race, Nayati had maintained his unbeaten record for Alan King when winning the Horse Comes First Juvenile Hurdle.

But luck was on his side with the 8/11 favourite being left clear after a last-fence fall for likely winner Et Moi Alors, who brought down long-time leader Harmonise in the process.

Drumcliff (11/4) made it two from two over fences with an emphatic success in the Thames Material Amateur Riders’ Handicap Chase.

His trainer Harry Fry was back in the winner’s enclosure with Acting Lass (7/4f) after the bet365 Handicap Chase, jockey Noel Fehily also completing a double following his victory on La Bague Au Roi.

Ascot’s next meeting is Betfair Chase Day on Saturday, February 17.