TOP jockey Aidan Coleman bagged an early Christmas present at the Ascot race meeting on Saturday, writes Dave Wright.

He won the JLT Long Walk Hurdle on the Emma Lavelle-trained Paisley Park – his first in a Grade One race.

"I've been riding an awfully long time and I hadn't had one," said Coleman, who has ridden nearly 1,000 winners.

"It's great to win, but I'm almost embarrassed it's taken me this long."

"I never thought it was on my mind, but 50 yards from the line I finally realised what a monkey it was on my back."

Coleman punched the air as he crossed the line on the 8-1 shot, who had two lengths to spare over 40-1 outsider West Approach, the mount of Harry Cobden.

Wiltshire-based Lavelle was obviously delighted with the six-year-old Paisley Park, saying: "I think he will get better. He has posted a personal best, so we just have to hope he keeps going the right way."

Cobden had won the day's opening race, the Foundation Developments Novices' Handicap Hurdle, on Casko D'Airy (16/1) trained by Paul Nicholls.

The Skelton yard won the Betfair Exchange Trophy for the second time with Mohaayed (16/1) following up Willow's Saviour success in 2013.

Racing in cheekpieces for the first time, the six-year-old was sent on by Harry Skelton a long way out and stayed on well, winning by two and a quarter lengths from 13/2 Lisp, ridden by Wayne Hutchinson.

There was another big price winner in the Garrard Silver Cup Handicap Chase with 33/1 Valtor, the mount of James Bowen and trained by Nicky Henderson, finishing eight lengths clear of Jammin Masters, ridden by Gavin Sheehan.

The well-backed Hell's Kitchen (5/1), in the hands of Barry Geraghty, took the My Pension Expert Handicap Chase, but the only favourite to oblige at Ascot was 5/4 Kildisart, ridden by Daryl Jacob and trained by Ben Pauling, in the Sebastian's Action Trust Graduation Chase.

On Friday, Sonning businessman Max McNeill – along with Ruscombe-based Prodec Networks Ltd – had won the Bet With Ascot Novices' Limited Handicap Chase on Azzerti (11/4) before seeing his Seddon finish third behind 6/4f Angels Breath, ridden by Nico de Boinville and trained by Henderson, in the Sky Bet Supreme Trial Novices' Hurdle.