Hat-trick joy for Nicholls
Paul Nicholls, runaway leader in the trainers’ championship, and stable jockey Ruby Walsh enjoyed another fruitful day at Cheltenham with a near 166-1 treble.
Sweet Diversion, Darrias and Napolitain all obliged with the first-named sparking the hat-trick in the Q.Equine Handicap Chase.
The seven-year-old was held up in midfield by Ruby Walsh early on but a fluent leap at the final fence to took him to the front and he ran out a commanding six-length winner over Parsons Legacy.
Nicholls said of the 9-2 winner: “He seems to be improving all the time.
“I don’t know where we will go with him now but we will have to aim him at the better races because he will probably go up a few pounds for this.”
The duo were on the mark again as Darrias justified his place as 100-30 favourite in the Mitie Group Handicap Hurdle.
Walsh held up the five-year-old in last for most of the way but made smooth progress to join the leaders two out.
Arrayou looked to have the race in the bag after out-jumping Darrias at the final flight but he tired up the hill, letting Walsh steal a half-length victory.
“He’s only been back in training for 10 weeks and although he stayed on there, that was probably far enough for him,” said Nicholls.
“He might go to Sandown next Friday but he has already schooled over fences and he looks like another high-class novice chaser for the autumn.”
Nicholls and Walsh topped off their afternoon when Napolitain got the better of Unleash in a rousing finish to the April Novices’ Chase.
The 6-1 shot was prominent in the early part of the three-mile-one-furlong event but ran in snatches for most of the way after a few clumsy leaps.
However, he was back on the bridle coming to the second-last and the best efforts of the gallant Unleash, Napolitain finished a short-head in front.
Nicholls said: “He has done so well for a five-year-old as he’s not really top class. He’s very tough and will have a holiday now but he might not be easy to place next season.”
Martin Pipe was back among the big-race winners after saddling Our Vic to victory in the Grade Two Faucets For Mira Showers Silver Trophy Chase.
The 5-2 joint favourite disputed the early lead with Kadarann and was always jumping particularly well for Timmy Murphy but it was Too Forward who cruised up coming down the hill.
However, Pipe’s charge dug deep to take it up again on the home turn and eventually ran out a cosy eight-length winner.
Nicholls and Walsh were denied a four-timer when Oscatello got the better of a pulsating finish with Turko in the Byrne Bros Novices’ Hurdle.
The Ian Williams-trained six-year-old was settled in the midfield by Wayne Hutchinson and took up the running at the second last from long-time leader Boychuk.
The 7-1 shot travelled well into the straight and although he was strongly challenged by Turko after the final flight, he had enough in reserve to score by half a length.
“As a young horse he had very bad knees and we were not sure we would get him to the racecourse at all,” said Williams.
“However, he has progressed very well and beaten some nice horses today.”
Here We Go survived a scare at the final flight to take the Endsleigh Insurance Novices’ Handicap Hurdle.
The Gary Moore-trained 11-4 chance, partnered by the trainer’s son Jamie, came to win his race but made a bad blunder at the last which looked like handing the race to Best Profile.
However, the gelding regained his momentum and got back up to win by a length.
Short-priced favourite Chiaro was made to work hard for his success in the Cheltenham Juvenile Novices’ Hurdle.
The 8-11 shot made most of the running under Richard Johnson but his jumping was less than fluent and after being strongly challenged before the final flight, he found plenty for pressure to run out a five-length winner.
“He’s finished for the season now and he will go straight novice chasing in the autumn.”
