Nicky Henderson’s Jango Baie put his rivals firmly to the sword when running out a facile winner of the Ladbrokes 1965 Chase at Ascot.

The unexposed six-year-old put up one of the most remarkable performances of the season when flying up the Cheltenham hill to claim the Arkle over two miles twelve months ago, but headed to Ascot for his seasonal reappearance looking to bounce back to winning ways having suffered defeat to Impaire Et Passe when upped to two and a half in the Manifesto Novices' Chase at Aintree.

Returning to action in what looked a red-hot Grade 2, featuring last year's King George runner-up Il Est Francais, the talented Gidleigh Park and Paul Nicholls' defending champion Pic d'Orhy, who was bidding to become the first horse to land the race for a third time, Jango Baie was sent off a well-backed 9/4 market leader under Nico De Boinville.

Habitual front-runner Il Est Français put an early spanner in the works as he opted not to take up his customary position at the head of affairs, leaving Gidleigh Park to stroll along out in front, with both Jango Baie and Pic d'Orhy seemingly happy with their position off the pace.

Not for the first time in his career, Il Est Français's engine cut out at an early stage and as James Reveley pulling up his mount, De Boinville set about making his move. Jango Baie could still be spotted travelling with plenty of zest coming round the Ascot bend and once they moved into the straight, De Boinville simply said go on the six-year-old, who responded with effortless fashion to stride nine-lengths clear of Harry Fry's Gidleigh Park. Pic d'Orhy was third.

The winner now looks set to step up further in trip, with Paddy Power quick to cut the winner to 4/1 for the King George on Boxing Day and 7/1 for the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham next March.

"I am thrilled and delighted to see what we've got on our hands," said Nicky Henderson on Sky Sports Racing.

"First thing is will be to make sure he's alright in the morning after having an injury after Aintree, you've got to come through a test like this then we can start thinking about the next plan, which we have an idea, and I think you would have to move to Kempton.

"I know he won the Arkle last year, but he's not a two-miler. We came here to give ourselves the option of going to the King George VI Chase and it might have been the right decision."

"He's seen it out really well. He always finishes his races well, as you saw in the Arkle last year over two miles, I think he's turning into a really nice staying chaser. He'll step up to three miles now." – Nico de Boinville