Ascot Races: Cyrname and Traffic Fluide fall at last as Riders Onthe Storm triumphs in eventful Betfair Ascot Chase

AN eventful Betfair Ascot Chase went the way of a sheepish Nigel Twiston-Davies as his Riders Onthe Storm survived a late scare.

The aptly-named winner came out on top in a gruelling Grade 1 that saw Cyrname and Traffic Fluide both fall at the last fence.

Odds-on Cyrname looked well beat in third when he departed, but Gary Moores Traffic Fluide looked a threat to Sam Twiston-Davies before he went.

It left Riders Onthe Storm (7-2) in the clear but most eyes were on Cyrname who remained motionless on the ground.

Screens were quickly erected but to the relief of the punters that braved the weather he eventually got up.

One mans misery is another mans gain and it was the Twiston-Davies team left to celebrate after a big race double following Grand National hope Ballyoptics victory earlier in the afternoon.

Riders Onthe Storm will head straight to the Ryanair for which bookies cut him into a 7-1 chance.

Nigel Twiston-Davies said: I think hes probably a lucky winner in the end, but thats the way it goes.

We didnt come here expecting much, but we could have come a good second, won 35,000 and gone home very happy.

Sam said he went to take on Cyrname early and that probably tired the horse out early on.

Hell be better left-handed, he was hanging today, and we wont have to deal with Cyrname in the Ryanair.

The ground should be better at Cheltenham too and we must go there as a bit of a good thing Id have thought.

It might have been a mistake to take him on so soon but hes a free running sort and you dont want to give Cyrname too much of a head start.

Riders Onthe Storm joined Twiston-Davies from Tom Taaffe in Ireland at the start of the year and has been a revelation since, winning all three starts.

Twiston-Davies added: We had no idea how good he was when he joined.

The owner Carl Hinchy found him and I love having horses like this. I wish I could find ones like this!

Sam Twiston-Davies added: He jumped brilliantly today, especially down the back and thats what brought him into the race against Cyrname.

But Im just delighted to see all the other horses and jockeys up to be honest, thats the main thing for now.

The celebrations were muted around Ascot until Paul Nicholls was spotted walking Cyrname back into the paddock as the grandstand cheered.

The Ditcheat handler said: That reaction just shows you how much this horse means to people.

Hes winded but looks fine now. That feeling is better than any winner to be honest.

Well get him back in and Id say hes probably done until next season now, something is missing at the moment but hell be back.