Iconoclast gave Banbury trainer Alex Hales a 37th birthday present with a last-gasp victory under a never-say-die ride from Paul Moloney at Ascot on Saturday.

The ten-year-old was left trailing in last place after blundering at the ninth fence in the Weatherbys Bloodstock Insurance Chase.

But Moloney stuck tight and gave the 7-1 shot time to get back in the three-mile Listed contest, before finishing powerfully to collar The Sawyer in the last 30 yards and win by a neck.

French raider Royal Tune, who had looked all over the winner turning into the straight, weakened to finish four lengths back in third.

Moloney admitted he had thought about pulling his mount up, but kept going in the hope of making the frame.

“We were lucky,” he said. “We were on the floor and I was very nearly contemplating whether we were ever going to get back in the race, but luckily we did.

“I just took it fence by fence and I thought if I could get him jumping I might get some prize money.

“He loves soft ground like all Topanoora’s – stays really well and this might not be the end of him.”

Hales, who trains at Edgcote, was at Haydock, but his assistant, David Annetts, said: “It’s a good birthday present for him. We are absolutely delighted. For a small yard it makes all the difference.

“He loves the soft ground. We were delighted that the rain came, otherwise he would probably not have run.

“He ran well at Exeter and he was supposed to go to Kempton, but that got called off and he has had a few problems since.”