Clan Des Obeaux, the 2/5 favourite, led home three rivals to win the re-arranged Betfair Denmam Chase on Saturday on a memorable day for Paul Nicholls.

The 10-time chamipon trainer saddled a stunning eight winners – five at Ascot, two at Wincanton and one at Haydock – with his Gold Cup hopeful leading the way under jockey Harry Cobden.

Clan des Obeaux put in a superb jump at the last before easing away to win by 11 lengths from Terrefort, the Denman having been rescheduled following the cancelled Newbury meeting the previous week because of the equine influenza shutdown.

Nicholls described Clan’s performance as “awesome” and Sky Bet cut the winner to 6/1 from 7s for next month’s Gold Cup at Cheltenham.

Reflecting on the day, the Ditcheat maestro, who sent out 24 runners around the country with all but four helping contribute to his day's prize money of £260,545, added: "We've had seven in one day before, but we've never had eight, so it has been brilliant."

In the other race switched from Newbury to Ascot, Al Dancer (5/2fav), ridden by Sam Twiston-Davies for his father Nigel, waltzed home in the Betfair Hurdle.