Tinkler times it perfectly on Quentin Collonges

Prestigious handicap chases like the Hennessy, and possibly the Grand National, could be on the cards for the diminutive nine-year-old horse which came to prominence when winning Doncaster’s Grimthorpe Chase last month.

On that occasion, Malton-born Tinkler deployed positive frontrunning tactics, but he was happy to bide his time on Saturday behind the early pacesetters in this historic race that is still known as the ‘Whitbread’ despite its change of sponsor.

Yet the Henry Daly-trained grey hit the front two out and, after being briefly headed by Cheltenham Festival winner Same Difference on the run-in, Quentin Collonges then surged clear on the uphill stretch at odds of 14-1.

“He’s very, very tough. You couldn’t get a better end of season than this,” said an elated Tinkler.

The Yorkshireman was visibly moved as he accepted the congratulations of his riding rivals and his main boss Nicky Henderson, who became champion trainer for the first time since the mid-Eighties.

This victory ranks alongside Tinkler’s Cheltenham Festival success on Henderson’s Greenhope several seasons ago and is vindication for a season in which he invariably had to play second fiddle to AP McCoy and Barry Geragthy.

There were also frustrating occasions when he could not honour commitments to Daly because of changes to the Henderson runners and riders with seconds to go prior to the final declarations.

Tinkler was philosophical. Without a Grand National ride this year, Quentin Collonges already has a 25-1 quote from Skybet for the 2014 renewal.

He said: “It’s great that on a day Nicky Henderson is crowned champion, another of the trainers I ride for has won a big race.”

Middleham trainer Phil Kirby’s progression continued when Stopped Out won Sandown’s opening hurdle under veteran Richie McGrath’ who drove the horsebox from North Yorkshire to the Esher track and back.

In the final title of the 2012-13 jumps season to be settled, Lucy Alexander was confirmed as champion conditional.

The first female jockey to win this accolade, she came to prominence thanks to her association with West Witton trainer Ferdy Murphy, though she now rides as a freelance.