The Tom McCourt trained High Skies carried top weight to land the Joe Rea Memorial Handicap Chase in the hands of Paul Townend at odds of 12/1.

Townend was hard at work on the son of Kahyasi from three out but under a strong drive by Townend the pair improved to lead before the last and kept on well for a five and a half length win over The Hedge

Winning trainer McCourt stated: “We are kind of running out of options for him, he’s a big horse and you’d think he’s want a big galloping track but he actually wants a tight track.”

“He loves fast ground and the tight tracks suit him as he can have a breather and get some air into his lungs as he has a bit of a palate problem.”

“We might bring him to England but it’s only a slight possibility.”