Cheltenham November Meeting review: The Young Master makes all

Count on Twister at Cheltenham

Nigel Twiston-Davies predicted a bright future for Count Meribel after he maintained his unbeaten record over fences in the Steel Plate And Sections Novices' Chase at Cheltenham.

The Naunton trainer took the two-and-a-half-mile contest back in 2007 with subsequent Gold Cup winner Imperial Commander, and has high hopes this year's representative can climb through the ranks.

Kept close to the front throughout, Mark Grant did extremely well to keep the partnership intact following a blunder at the second-last and the 4/1 shot rallied up the hill to defeat long-time leader Le Breuil by a neck.

Favourite Mr Whipped was a further half-length adrift in third.

The winner was introduced at 20/1 for the RSA Chase at the Festival in March with Sky Bet.

Twiston-Davies, who had seen stablemate Jameson suffer an ill-fated fall in the opening race, said: "I hope he can get to the top. He will definitely stay three miles. He is a lovely horse, and with a bit clearer round he might have won more easily.

"I think he is a very nice horse and well done Mark Grant for hanging on. He is a super jumper.

"We are very lucky to have him. When Jim Old gave up training he brought the owner with him. I think we will probably move him up to three miles next time.

"He might even be back here at the next meeting. The plan is the RSA and that is the dream, although I'm sure a lot of very good horses will pop up."

Doran back to winning ways

Bun Doran (9-4 favourite) gained an overdue success when getting his head in front for the first time in almost two years in the BetVictor Handicap Chase, forming the second leg of a treble on the day for jockey Paddy Brennan.

Having finished in the frame in three of his four starts last season, the Tom George-trained seven-year-old hit the target on his return when running out an eight-length winner of the two-mile contest.

George said of the 9-4 winner: "It's been a while coming. He had been knocking on the door in some big races last year and he has strengthened up over the summer. We thought there was a big day in him, and it's come. It's taken a long time to work out what trip he wants, but two miles let's him use his stride and his jumping and that is probably his trip.

"We took them (Bun Doran and God's Own) away a couple of weeks ago. He did a strong bit of work that day, so Paddy was pretty confident. He is a young, improving horse. We have just got to work out where we go now. "

33/1 leaves punters Chilly

Fergal O'Brien's Red Hot Chilly left a lacklustre effort at Wincanton behind when bouncing back to winning ways with a 33/1 triumph under Brennan in the Swanee River Supports Countryside Alliance Novices' Handicap Hurdle.

Putting daylight between himself and his rivals rounding the home turn, the five-year-old repelled the late challenge of bottom weight My Brother by a length and a quarter, foiling a quick double for Mulholland.

O'Brien said: "Obviously it is a surprise. We are delighted, though, as he has been very consistent all summer and he was pretty race fit.

"Paddy (Brennan) always maintained that a good-run two-mile race would suit him and he proved it round there. We were not sure about the ground, as it was a bit dead, but he did it so well.

"The idea was this would be his last run and he would go away where we send horses for pre-training, before coming back novice chasing next spring and summer.

"It's lovely having another winner here, especially as they (owners) have persevered with this fellow for a long time."

Treble up for in-form Brennan

The Paddy Brennan treble was complete when Coolanly (7/2) landed the Grade Two Ballymore Novices' Hurdle.

Another on the day for trainer Fergal O'Brien, the six-year-old produced a straightforward success, travelling kindly in behind the leaders and taking it up at the last.

Market leader Pym, who was keen early, boxed on for second but the winner had three and a quarter lengths in hand at the line. Percy Veer was back in third at 25/1.

Brennan said: "It was good to win today, as it was a big disappointment in the Persian War at Chepstow when we really fancied him and I fell off at the second.

"At this stage of his career he's in the right hands and the Challow Hurdle at Newbury could be the race for him - he's good enough for something like that.

"I only live over the road - any day you ride a winner here is great, so to ride three...it's what it's all about."

O'Brien said: "We've always liked the horse, although when we went to buy him I didn't want him and it was Sally (O'Brien, wife) who persuaded me to get him.

"He wasn't easy after the Persian War, as he was a bit battered and bruised. It's taken a bit of time, so it's credit to everyone at home.

"He was favourite for the Persian War, which shows how much we thought of him.

"Paddy said he'd take his time and not rush, as we ran him at the Festival and he was a bit free and fresh, but his form early on was rock solid."

He added: "Aye Aye Charlie could go for the Challow, but now he is right in the picture as well and a lot of the same owners are involved, though I'd not run him (Coolanly) in a bog."

Tiger fourth at Orders delivers

Grand National winner Tiger Roll ran a promising race in fourth on his return to action in the Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Chase, which was won once again by Josies Orders.

Winner of the race in 2015, it was an incredible eighth success in the contest for trainer Enda Bolger, who has farmed events in the middle of the Cotwolds track since their inception.

Josies Orders (2/1 favourite) looked beaten at the last when Jamie Snowden's Fact Of The Matter jumped past him, but the 10-year-old relished the climb to the line and Mark Walsh's mount ultimately won going away by three-quarters of a length.

Bolger said: "That was great, he really knows his way around here and cuts the corners well. I thought we were cooked coming to the last, but he's a great stayer and the nice ground helped him as well.

"I have to thank Mr (JP) McManus (owner) for giving me good horses, these races are so competitive now, the better horses are pulling out but we have a system at home that keeps them fresh and keeps them keen."

Tiger Roll was on and off the bridle at stages, but began to get involved with half a mile to run.

Having run wide on the final turn, Gordon Elliott's National winner stayed on nicely into fourth.

Elliott said: "It was a lovely run, Keith (Donoghue) just said he was a little bit rusty and had a couple of blows - I thought I had him a bit fitter, but it was his first time on the track since the National.

"Obviously he's getting a bit cuter at home, but I like the way he galloped from the third-last to the line.

"You'd imagine coming here in December and March off level weights, the races will be made for him. March will be his Gold Cup. That's the first time he has jumped banks since last March. I'm very happy with him."

He went on: "March is more important to be honest (than the Grand National). The chances of going back and winning another Grand National are very hard. If he wins for a fourth time at the Festival, it will be a dream come true. He will run in December, then go straight to the Festival."

He added: "It's great to get him out, people want to see these horses and we're delighted he's back in one piece."

Master of his trade

The Young Master continued his recent revival with a game front-running success in the Markel Insurance Amateur Riders' Handicap Chase at Cheltenham.

After making a winning return to action at Chepstow, the nine-year-old backed it up with a tenacious display that saw him pull out plenty to deny Station Master by eight lengths under Sam Waley-Cohen.

Winning trainer Neil Mulholland said of the 9/2 chance: "It was great. He had got the course form as he has been round here before, and the form of his last win had worked out well.

"He is a very genuine horse. He is still only nine - people think he is a lot older, as he has been around a long time.

"He was very game and gutsy and seems to have come back to form. The nicer the ground, the better for him. We will leave him in the Ladbrokes Trophy (at Newbury on December 1) and speak to the owners and see how he is.

"The plan was to try to win a couple of races early, then give him a break and come back for the Scottish National and Bet365 (Gold Cup, at Sandown)."

Part-owner Robert Waley-Cohen, the outgoing chairman of the course, added: "I'm very happy. Sam said when he rode him at Chepstow he felt a completely different horse to previous years."

There was a sad postscript to the race, with Cheltenham announcing the Nigel Twiston-Davies-trained Jameson had been fatally injured in a fall two out, when still holding every chance.

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