The testing conditions had seen many of the market favourites fade tamely away before even reaching the final furlong of the one-mile trip, and it came down to Blythe Knight and 25-1 shot Royal Island to battle it out at the finish with Quinn's charge just holding on for Gibbons in a tight finish.

There were more celebrations for the Irish riding fraternity over at Newbury where Timmy Murphy guided Harringay home for Henrietta Knight in the Mares Novices Handicap Hurdle.

In treacherous conditions on a track that seemed to be cutting up quite badly, Murphy held off the late challenge of 40-1 shot Jonty's Lass with Vertical Bloom back in third.