Gray Dawning powers to win the Betfair Chase

Odds on favorite Gray Dawning swept away two-time winner Royale Pagaille to win the Betfair Chase at Haydock Park.

The 11-year-old veteran Royale Pagaille has won the race for the past two years, but he was no fancier and was priced at 18-1 as the field of five set off for its first Grade 1 domestic race of the season.

Royale Pagaille led until the final fence, when Gray Dawning came through to win and reverse the result from 12 months ago.

Winning jockey Harry Skelton told ITV Sport: “It took him 365 days to convince everyone of what he could do. This was his day – he was fantastic.”

The race is traditionally viewed as a race for contenders for the Cheltenham Gold Cup, but great Irish winner Haiti Colors struggled to jump throughout and was withdrawn from last place.

Stellar Story took third place ahead of Handstands.

Earlier, Harry Redknapp’s The Jukebox Man won the Betfair Exchange Graduation Chase.

“That was nerve-wracking,” said former West Ham and Bournemouth boss Redknapp. “I associate everything with football, but that was like sitting on the touchline with 10 minutes to go, holding on to the lead.”