First Flow ground out a determined victory in the Fitzdares Peterborough Chase at Huntingdon.

A Grade One winner in last season’s Clarence House Chase at Ascot, Kim Bailey’s charge went on to finish sixth in the Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham and at Punchestown in the spring.

Stepping up to two and a half miles on his seasonal reappearance, First Flow was a 12-1 shot in the hands of David Bass, but bounced back to form in fine style.

Allmankind and Funambule Sivola battled it out for the lead for much of the way, with the latter winning that particular fight.

But Bailey’s inmate followed Funambule Sivola into the straight before taking over, kicking four and a half lengths clear on the run-in.

Bailey said: “That was great. I’m pleased for Tony Solomons as he is my longest-serving owner.

“It is extraordinary. He (First Flow) is a freak of nature. I got him as a four-year-old and he has been a freak from day one, but that is what makes good horses.

“This race was never on the horizon as he was going to go to Sandown, but when they started watering there I thought it would be crazy for him as he is a horse that wants soft ground.

“I had an argument with my jockey (David Bass) all week. He was convinced he wasn’t going to stay and I was convinced he would stay today.

“Watching First Flow has never been a spectacle and I hate every moment as he crashes through every fence – he has got no respect for anything!

“He is a complete freak of nature and an oddball in every sense of the word.”

On future plans, he added: “I jokingly said this will open up options. There aren’t many to go to, but it does help a little bit.

“I would definitely think he would go back for the Clarence House Chase now and he might get his ground there.”