A review of the rest of the action from Saturday's meeting at Cheltenham where the thriving Editeur Du Gite won again.
Thriving Editeur wins again
Editeur Du Gite (3/1 joint-favourite) made it back-to-back course wins in the Simon Claisse Handicap Chase.
The seven-year-old carries the colours of trainer Gary Moore’s 2014 Queen Mother Champion Chase hero Sire De Grugy – and connections are dreaming he too could earn himself a crack at the two-mile chasing crown.
Part-owner Steve Preston said: “It’s quite exhilarating to say the least. We weren’t as confident today as the ground was a bit deader and he had 7lb more to carry, but without a doubt we’ve improved again, which is more than you could hope for.
“Hopefully he has still more in him. The last time I spoke to Gary, we were thinking of the Game Spirit at Newbury, so he could go there before we think about bigger, bigger things.
“That (Champion Chase) is possible, but if not there’s the Grand Annual and then the Red Rum at Aintree, which he won last season.”
He was introduced to the Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase market at 40/1 by Betfair.
Unlimited Replays
of all UK and Irish races with our Race Replays
Discover Sporting Life Plus Benefits
Williams excited as Interne De Sivola strikes
The Nick Williams-trained Interne De Sivola built on the promise of his hurdling debut with a clear-cut victory in the JCB Triumph Trial.
The youngster finished third behind Dan Skelton’s exciting prospect In This World at Warwick last month, form that was boosted by the success of runner-up Graystone at the same venue earlier this week.
Ridden by the trainer’s son Chester, Interne De Sivola had his rivals in trouble a long way from home on his second start and was five and a half lengths clear of 5-2 favourite Yorksea at the line.
Unlimited Replays
of all UK and Irish races with our Race Replays
Discover Sporting Life Plus Benefits“It was a good performance in what was a good race at Warwick and we thought he’d improve as he’d never run on the Flat,” said Williams.
“That was the strongest juvenile race of the season so far at Warwick. Good horses were beaten 30 lengths that day and the Skelton one is very good, obviously. He (Interne De Sivola) stays well and has a strong pedigree. He’s a very good prospect.
“We haven’t really got a plan. We said we’d see what happened today, but he’s won very well and it (Triumph Hurdle) is a possibility.”
Martello Sky claims emotional win
Martello Sky (100/30) secured an emotional success when getting the better of a driving finishing in the concluding Close Brother Mares’ Handicap Hurdle.
Having sent out The White Mouse to victory in the race 12 months ago trainer Lucy Wadham repeated the feat with the five-year-old, who found extra reserves when it mattered most to score by a neck.
Simon Wood, member of The Sky Partnership, said: “She is an absolutely incredible mare she has got the biggest heart in the world and we are lucky to be part of her. Fakenham is our local track and she won first time out then when my brother Tim, who was bred her was still alive but unfortunately he died about 18 months ago.
“People thought her run at Aintree against the boys wasn’t a great run but she hates the mud but she had her ground here today. The aim will be to come back for the Mares’ Hurdle at the Festival in March.”
