All’s Well That Ends Well

Sandown hosted the jumps finale in the UK, crowning the champion trainer and jockey in the process alongside some top-class action.

The results of both the jockeys' and trainers' championships were well known prior to the meeting, and guards of honour were given to both Sean Bowen and Dan Skelton before the racing got underway.

However, Bowen did not find a win to celebrate his seasonal achievement, but his brother James won the Grade Two Select Hurdle aboard Pertemps Final winner Jingko Blue.

It was a better day for Skelton, who recorded a double on the day. In the first race, the Fillies Juvenile Premier Handicap Hurdle, Made U Blush and Queen Maeve made it a one-two for the Champion Trainer, with the latter getting the better of her stablemate.

The trainer was just £7 off breaking the £5 million barrier, but he didn’t have to wait long until Doyen Quest overcame favourite Blow Your Wad in the Grade Two Oaksey Chase, winning by six lengths.

Usually, the Celebration Chase has involved Jonbon rounding off his busy season with an appearance in the final Grade One of the season, but Nicky Henderson ruled him out due to the quick ground.

Yet it was a familiar name that found the winners' enclosure as the evergreen twelve-year-old Edwardstone put his head down over the line first ahead of JPR One for a fourth career Grade One success.

In the final Premier Handicap of the season, the bet365 Gold Cup, it came down to a three-way photo finish in an absolute cracker.

Our Power and Irish raider Road To Home battled on bravely up the hill, but Gary & Josh Moore’s Havalia found a second wind and came over the top of the two to just win by a short-head.

The day prior, we were on the flat featuring three top-class races, including the first Derby Trial of the season, the Classic Trial.

Action was the sole runner on the card for Aidan O’Brien, but disappointed as Raaheeb threw his hat in the ring, winning by three-and-a-quarter lengths.

Even-money favourite Field Of Gold featured in the Group Two Sandown Mile but left it too late as Godolphin’s Opera Ballo went from pillar-to-post to put his name in the conversation of Group One milers this season.

And over in France, Arc de Triomphe winner Daryz returned to the site of his biggest career victory, Longchamp, winning the Group One Prix Ganay in impressive style.