Heros Fatal wins Cesarewitch

Heros Fatal leads home the huge Cesarewitch field

Heros Fatal battled on in determined fashion to give trainer Martin Pipe his first victory in the Tote Cesarewitch Handicap at Newmarket.

The 11-1 chance, third in the race last year, outstayed his 32 rivals to win the 2m 2f flat marathon.

It was a remarkable training feat by Pipe, who is more used to sending winners out over the jumps and had previously put Heros Fatal over hurdles.

Outsider Wave of Optimism was three parts of a length second at 40-1, with 9-2 favourite Barba Papa in third. Irish raider Tryphaena (10-1) came fourth.

I had to lose 4lb this morning to get down to the weight, but it's all worth it now

  Winning rider Gary Carter

Pipe preferred to stay at home as he was feeling under the weather.

His assistant Jonothan Lower said: "Martin wasn't 100% but I've just spoken to him and he's feeling a bit better now!"

Delighted winning rider Gary Carter said: "I had to lose 4lb this morning to get down to the weight but it's all worth it now. He was a bit free early on but he's stayed on really well to the line."

Pipe trains Heros Fatal for two of his most loyal patrons Frank and Alison Farrant.

Mr Farrant said: ""Newmarket's the headquarters of Flat racing and it's nice for a jumping owner and trainer to win a big race.

"This will be Heros Fatal's last race on the Flat and he's going to go chasing now."

Jockey Richard Hughes kicked off Champions Day with his 100th winner of the season, bringing home veteran Persian Punch (7-1) in the Jockey Club Cup.

The seven-year-old, trained by David Elsworth, defied top weight to ease home ahead of Royal Rebel and Rainbow High.

In the Victor Chandler Stakes, Michael Hills scored a shock victory on 20-1 outsider Last Resort, with Maidaan and Cape Town second and third.

Tote Cesarewitch Handicap,
Newmarket, 1455 BST
1 Heros Fatal 11-1, 2 Wave of Optimism 40-1, 3 Barba Papa 9-2f, 4 Tryphaena 10-1. 33 ran.