Joe Tizzard’s rich vein of form continued as he powered in a double at Ascot on Saturday, with Rock My Way putting himself in the Welsh Grand National picture by taking the Windsor Horse Rangers Berkshire National Handicap Chase.
Primed for the marathon event after a pipe-opener at Cheltenham last month, the 100-30 favourite careered to an ultra-impressive 11-length success in the hands of Brendan Powell to tee-up a festive trip to Chepstow.
Tizzard said: “I certainly haven’t seen a performance like that from Rock My Way before and he’s won really well.
“He just cantered round really and it was exciting and he will head to the Welsh National now and we’ll see what happens then.
“There’s no two ways about it he has improved for his first run at Cheltenham and he travelled into the race well down the hill before getting tired that day.
“I was half-tempted to take him back there last weekend, but I thought the extra weekend might help him and this was the right race for him.
“It was a mightily impressive performance today and hopefully the handicapper doesn’t get too carried away and we can have a look at Chepstow.”
Tizzard and Powell had earlier combined to take the opening Restorations UK Novices’ Hurdle with 13-8 favourite Etna Bianco.
Tizzard added: “Etna Bianca is a lovely, progressive young horse who stepped forward from Cheltenham well and it was a lovely performance from him. He’s exciting going forwards and there should be more to come.
“I hadn’t really thought about after today with him and it was always the plan after Cheltenham to come here.
“It’s a good pot today he’s won and we’ll have a look what’s about over Christmas and have a rethink. I don’t know if he’s a Challow Hurdle horse just yet, so we might wait a minute on races like that and try another nice option and go from there.”
Elsewhere on the card, Rockola Vogue (4-1) claimed the Get Your Ladbrokes Free Ascot Bet Mares’ Handicap Hurdle for David Killahena and Graeme McPherson, while Dan Skelton’s Calico (16-1) continued his fine early-season form with a second victory of the campaign in the Castello Banfi Hurst Park Handicap Chase.
There was also a victory for Paul Nicholls who took the concluding Remix Dry Mortar Novices’ Handicap Hurdle with 6-5 favourite Absolutely Doyen.