Bolger out of luck as Garde Champetre pipped

LACDOUDAL fought off last year’s winner Garde Champetre in a stirring finish to the Glenfarclas Cross-Country Chase at Cheltenham.

Philip Hobbs’ 11-year-old turned in a fantastic display of jumping from the front under Richard Johnson but looked booked for minor honours when Garde Champetre, trained by cross-country king Enda Bolger and ridden by Nina Carberry, loomed up on the turn for home.

The latter jumped up to join Lacdoudal (9-2) at the final obstacle but the grey was in determined mood and found more to score by a neck.