Cheltenham: Storm Control and Happygolucky claim top honours

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Having won at Cheltenham as recently as last month, Storm Control (5/1) continued his rich vein of form with another flawless round of jumping from the front that had his rivals toiling in behind when turning for home.

However, just as victory looked assured, Storm Control began to idle badly after clearing the final fence in fine style, virtually pulling himself up on the run-in as closers Potters Legend and Court Maid sensed their chance.

Both had got to Storm Control's quarters and appeared set to reel in him until Richard Patrick rousted his mount back into action, the seven-year-old picking up well for company and finding extra just in time to win by a length.

Potters Corner edged out Court Maid for second.

Come On Teddy rewarded Value Bet followers with another big-priced winner when seeing off On The Blind Side in the Citipost Handicap Hurdle.

Recommended at 10/1 on Thursday, Come On Teddy (11/2) burst through horses on the run to the final flight and another solid jump saw him inch into the lead under Sam Twiston-Davies.

On The Blind Side chased hard in second, but his effort proved in vain as Come On Teddy kept finding for Twiston-Davies and pulled nicely clear close home.

Happygolucky has staying power

Happygolucky (13/8 fav) relished the step up in trip when running out a comfortable winner of the International Decorative Surfaces Novices' Chase at Cheltenham.

The six-year-old met defeat on his most recent start at Fakenham but he was much the best on this occasion, taking a lead in the early exchanges before nosing in front approaching the penultimate fence and staying on strongly in the closing stages.

Kim Bailey's charge jumped well in the main, as Hold The Note set a clear target up front, but a slight peck on landing from Happygolucky three out did halt his momentum ever so slightly and jockey David Bass was seen to good effect as he sat tight in the saddle.

Thereafter it was relatively plain sailing and though The Mighty Don made late gains from the rear to take second spot, he was still three and three quarter lengths in arrears at the finish.

Bailey said afterwards: “I’m very pleased as he jumped very well. He is a proper trainer’s horse as he is not very big, but just a very athletic individual.

“He got there far too soon. He got a long one at the third last and landed in front, which he shouldn’t have done. He was committed really and he got lonely in front. He has done well.”

Sky Bet reacted by introducing Happygolucky at 33/1 for the National Hunt Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.

Michael Shinners, head of Racing PR at Sky Bet, said: Happygolucky looks a real stayer and produced a very good performance. We go 33/1 for the National Hunt Chase."

Don't stop believing

There was a terrific finish to the opening race on the card, the British EBF "National Hunt" Novices' Hurdle, as Make Me A Believer (16/5) battled back for a gutsy success.

David Pipe's son of Presenting looked a spent force when favourite Any News jumped into the lead at the final flight and continued to hold the upper hand for much of the run-in.

However, Make Me A Believer had the rail to help and responded to Tom Scudamore's urgings in game fashion, getting back up close home to prevail by a length.

Pipe said: "We've always thought he's a nice horse, he was beaten by a good horse at Lingfield first time out and he's had a wind operation since.

"He's going to be a 3m chaser so to do that over 2m1f, hopefully he's got a nice future. What I liked today was that he looked beat but fought back.

"I would imagine he would probably be going back up in trip now. He's got a nice level of ability and looks to have a nice attitude. He'll be lovely over 3m in the future.

"I think the first two are two nice horses and we'll be back here for the Festival with him one year, I'm just not sure if it will be this year."

Breffniboy (15/2) ran out a convincing victor of the of the Catesby Handicap Hurdle, maintaining the good run of form of the Johnny Farrelly stable.

Held up in the early part of the race, Breffniboy still had plenty to do when turning for home but he continued to make rapid headway and despite being slightly impeded at the last, picked up in good style and surged into the lead with a 100 yards to run.

He pulled two and a quarter lengths clear of the gallant Lively Citizen in the closing stages with Marlborough Sounds back in third.

A terrific leap at the final fence helped Madera Mist pull off a surprise victory in the CF Roberts Electrical & Mechanical Services Mares' Handicap Chase.

Tim Vaughan's 33/1 shot had only managed to finish fifth on her previous start at Bangor but she was good value for her five and a half length success here, taking up the running with a couple of fences to jump and looking in little danger thereafter.

The Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Chase produced the closest finish of the day as Some Neck (18/1) rallied late on to nail Defi Des Carres on the line.

Defi Des Carres had a healthy advantage when clearing the last and appeared to have matters in hand until the last 100 yards when Some Neck, with the rail to help, began to eat into that lead.

There was only a short-head separating the pair at the line but it was Some Neck who won the verdict for Irish trainer John McConnell.

Winning jockey Ben Harvey said afterwards: "He's tough, he's real genuine. The cheekpieces helped me ride a race on him today and it worked a treat.

"I thought I was going to have to settle for second but he just kept finding for me. He got in under the second last, which wouldn't have been ideal, but once I got stuck into him after the last he really rallied."