DAVID Hill became clear favourite for the trainers' championship with a double at Sha Tin last night that left him two clear of defending champion John Moore with just two meetings left.
''I had to get at least a winner tonight, I knew that going into the meeting,'' said Hill after seeing Mountain Champ (5-1) and Chater Star (4-1) complete a back-to-back double.
''I don't for a minute think that it is all over but I do know that it would have been very difficult for me if I had come away from this meeting with nothing.
''But I was expecting both my winners to run very big races, particularly as Mountain Champ had come on quite a bit since his last run.
''Chater Star is always a chance in a race like this and the ground came right for him. It was all very typical, he is a horse that has to be really ridden along and really got into and Basil (Marcus) is the ideal rider,'' said Hill.
Champion Moore had no realistic chances on last night's eight-event card but will have blanket declarations for the final two days of racing.