Trainer Lucinda Russell saddled the winner of the Ultima Handicap Chase for the third time in four years when 13-2 Favourite Myretown made virtually all under Patrick Wadge in the three miles and a furlong contest.

Lucinda Russell said: “We knew that if he jumped round, he was phenomenally well-handicapped; I just didn’t know if he was going to be man enough, and it’s very exciting that he is. I’m delighted for everyone at home - they work really hard, and Stephy Duff, who looks after this horse absolutely adores him and does all his massage as well, so she will be delighted. Her brother Jamie Duff is leading him up.

“He’s a novice horse, his jumping has been a bit hit and miss, he turned upside down at Windsor, but since then we ran him at Kelso and he’s got his confidence back. He looks quite well-handicapped, actually! We didn’t mean it to be like that.

“I’ve just remembered that I own half of him, so it’s even better.

“He’s a bit different to Corach Rambler - he jumps so exuberantly. Corach is just a different sort of horse, but this is a phenomenal horse. And I’m so pleased for Patrick. He’s a young boy, he’s had ups and downs - that’s his first Festival winner.”

Patrick Wadge said: “I spoke to Scu beforehand; he hasn’t been the easiest or the best of jumpers, and we didn’t know how he’d take to this big field. The plan was to let him roll out, get him in a rhythm, get him jumping, and by God did he do that.

“He was winging fences. He made one little mistake down the back, but I think it was the best thing, because it just brought him back to me a little bit. I couldn’t believe it when I couldn’t hear anyone near me, and when I jumped three out I thought, ‘I hope I haven’t gone too quick’, and then I gave him a squeeze round the bend and he just took off. I think he would have gone round again if I’d let him.

“Thanks to Lucinda and Scu and the owners - it’s crazy, the opportunities I’ve had, the places I’ve been and the horses I’ve got a ride on. He’s the best horse I’ve ever sat on and I think he might be the best I ever will sit on.”

Lucinda Russell – 4 Festival wins
Patrick Wadge – 1 Festival win

Joe Tizzard, trainer of runner-up The Changing Man, said: “We are in the right races and we are competitive. It is as simple as that. I’m chuffed to bits and I can’t say a bad word about him.

"The horse has probably run a season’s best there today. He has turned up and performed once again.

“He is a gorgeous horse and he has beaten everything else apart from the winner, but he is in top class handicaps all the time and when he went back into novice company he bolted up. He has been so consistent.

“I think we will enter him in the Scottish Grand National and the bet365 Gold Cup. He doesn’t need to run again though with the Coral Gold Cup in mind for him next season, but he will have a couple of entries and we will have a look.

“I will enter him in the Grand National next season, but he will head for the Coral Gold Cup in the first half of the season.

“He was entered in it this season and if he hadn’t of fallen in the Badger Beer he would have gone for the Coral Gold Cup and he would have been 12lbs better off than he will be next season.”

Gavin Cromwell, trainer of the third Malina Girl, said: “It was a great run. She has been a great little mare. She is quite small, but she is very game and always tries very hard.

“She stumbled at the second and almost came down. It took her quite a while to get her confidence back, but she stayed on really well.

“It is not completely confirmed, but she might just go to stud now. She has been a brilliant mare and that might be the plan now.”