RACING: Mick Fitzgerald suffered a pair of defeats on long odds-on favourites in the first two races at Fontwell yesterday.

Tagar and Dancing Bay, both trained by Nicky Henderson, went off respectively at 2 to 5 and 1 to 2 for the divisions of the Ruling Dynasty Maiden Hurdle.

Tagar suffered a 22-length defeat at the hands of Telimar Prince in the opener, and then Dancing Bay fell in what the jockey described as a "bizarre" incident when holding every chance.

Dancing Bay had moved alongside Supreme Catch, a newcomer from Henrietta Knight's stable and partnered by Jim Culloty, approaching the penultimate flight. The pair jumped the hurdle in unison but a full two strides after landing Dancing Bay pitched forward and hit the ground, leaving Supreme Catch clear for an unchallenged victory.

Connections of Supreme Catch, bought in Ireland early this year, were convinced their horse would have prevailed.

Knight's husband Terry Biddlecombe said: "He jumped brilliant apart from one he got a bit close to, and I think he would have won anyway.

"That was a good performance, he's a lovely horse to look forward to next year over fences."

The Josh Gifford-trained Telimar Prince has the £30,000 Teletronics Systems National Hunt Auction Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham's April meeting as his target following his victory under Leighton Aspell.