Patience has certainly been a virtue as far as Grand Article is concerned, but the gelding finally got off the mark for Paul Cowley’s Culworth stables, near Banbury, with a long-awaited win at Towcester.

Running for the 35th time under National Hunt Rules on Sunday, the ten-year-old made much of the running, before galloping up the hill to land a handicap chase over an extended two miles by a length and a half from Tinelyra.

Cowley, who has just six horses at his Lodge Barn Farm stables, said: “It’s brilliant. Adam Wedge gave him an absolute peach of a ride. The horse has been an enigma, but patience has been rewarded.

“This was no Gold Cup, but it was for us. It was very competitive at this level, and I’m chuffed to bits for the horse.”