Chantry Home rolled again the years to take the Betfair Handicap Chase in decisive style at Cheltenham.
Nicky Henderson’s veteran was a twin Grade One winner in his novice chasing days, profitable at each the Cheltenham Competition and Aintree in 2021.
He would go on to be a Gold Cup contender the next 12 months, however was pulled up within the blue riband after claiming the Cotswold Chase on Trials day. Since then he has discovered victories exhausting to return by and has most just lately been seen campaigning over hurdles.
Reverting again to the bigger obstacles on the day he turned 11, Chantry Home confirmed loads of his previous zest when despatched off at 8-1 and travelled kindly for his pilot Nico de Boinville to stalk Ben Pauling’s Bowtogreatness and Sam Thomas’ Our Energy into the straight.
He was delivered by De Boinville heading in the direction of the final earlier than galloping residence six and a half lengths away from Our Energy who edged out Bowtogreatness for second. Nigel Twiston-Davies’ 5-6 favorite Broadway Boy was nicely held in fourth.
A stunned Henderson instructed ITV Racing: “The plan was to really go hunter chasing with him and I simply wanted to get one other run into him to get him prepared.
“I am undecided we’ve not made a bodge of this and I am undecided he’s nonetheless eligible (for hunter chases) now – he might need to go and win a Grand Nationwide or one thing as a substitute!
“It has scuppered me a little bit and we have been simply making an attempt to rekindle his enthusiasm as he was a really, excellent horse. We’d should rethink.
“He is actually loved himself and he hasn’t been over fences for a very long time solely as a result of he had a fall at Wetherby a few years in the past which actually damage him and broken his confidence.
“He spent final 12 months operating intermittently over hurdles and it has been exhausting work, I have to admit, however he’s simply beautiful.
“He is jumped nicely, travelled nicely and he is simply adopted them spherical. I assumed he would get drained, however it’s beautiful to see him come again and do this. It was barely sudden on the time although I have to admit.”
Kalif Du Berlais impresses for Ditcheat group
Kalif Du Berlais acquired Paul Nicholls’ new 12 months off to a blistering begin with a cold show within the opening Sonic The Hedgehog 3 In Cinemas Now Novices’ Restricted Handicap Chase at Cheltenham.
A number of the Ditcheat handler’s string had didn’t sparkle over the Christmas interval, together with Regent’s Stroll who was a overwhelmed favorite in the identical colors of part-owner Sir Alex Ferguson at Newbury final Saturday.
Nevertheless, there have been no such issues for the 4-7 favorite Kalif Du Berlais, who readily dispatched his two rivals beneath a immobile Harry Cobden to construct on his chasing victory within the autumn.
Cobden instructed Racing TV: “We now have all the time appreciated him so much and he was very fortunate to not damage himself at Carlisle the primary time when he had a horrible fall on the ditch.
“Right now the plan was to take a lead however I did not assume we have been going overly fast, so I simply let him bowl away and I assumed his leaping was improbable.
“He would not journey like a five-year-old and he is simply turned that in the present day. Every thing was very assured and by no means actually in any doubt.
“We now have loads of choices of the place we are able to go and he will certainly get two and a half miles. However he is solely 5 is not he, so he in all probability would not need tons of mileage on the clock at a younger age. We’re fortunate to have him.”
Diva Luna (5-4 favorite) bravely repelled the problem of Newton Twister to win the Richmond Villages And Bupa Care Properties Maiden Hurdle.
Skilled by Ben Pauling and ridden by Kielan Woods, Diva Luna was a Grade Two bumper winner at Aintree however suffered a shock reverse when overwhelmed on her hurdles bow final month.
The six-year-old made amends with a gutsy efficiency, digging deep after leaping the final to carry on for a one-and-three-quarter-length verdict which noticed her lower to 14-1 from 25s with Paddy Energy for the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle on the Competition in March.
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