McManus sitting pretty

Owner JP McManus now has market leaders for both the Triumph Hurdle and the Ballymore Properties Novices’ Hurdle as Franchoek and Aigle D’Or respectively completed their Cheltenham warm-ups in fine style.

The former, trained by Alan King, is no bigger than 4-1 for the juvenile crown following another game victory.

The 10-11 favourite was more impressive than he had been at Chepstow over Christmas, cruising six lengths clear in the Wragge & Co Juvenile Novices’ Hurdle, a race King’s Katchit took en-route to the Triumph a year ago.

“His confidence will be growing and Katchit got better as time went on,” reported King.

“Is now straight to Cheltenham and we will ride him handy in the Triumph.”

Aigle D’Or was another short-priced jolly at 7-4 favouritism in the Ballymore Properties Novices’ Hurdle and Nicky Henderson’s charge is around 6-1 for the same-named event at the Festival after swatting Hold Em away.

Frank Berry, McManus’ racing manager, said: “I’d have to speak to Nicky, but I’m sure we’ll stick to two and a half miles.”

Inglis Drever (11-8 favourite) has a third Ladbrokes World Hurdle title in his sights after steaming in by five lengths in the Byrne Group Cleeve Hurdle.

The undoubted star of Howard Johnson’s yard hit his traditional flat spot at the top of the hill but went through the gears rounding the final turn for stand-in pilot Richard Johnson to comprehensively turn the tables with last year’s winner Blazing Bailey.

His trainer said: “We’ll keep him ticking over at home now and get him ready for March when we’ll see if he can do the three-timer.

“We have been held up with the weather but he went down to another gallop I have got during the week and I knew then he was right.”

Knowhere gained a high-profile reward for several years of hard graft in the Letheby And Christopher Chase.

Despite making the frame in both the Paddy Power and Boylesports.com Gold Cups, the event was meant to be a showcase for Neptune Collonges and Our Vic, with Knowhere rather ignored at 16-1.

The latter’s stamina gave in after the last and the Paddy Brennan-ridden Knowhere overtook on the run-in.

Trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies said: “I suppose we’ll have to look at the Gold Cup now. He’ll be entered for the big handicaps too, and the National.”

Paul Nicholls unleashed a smart French import in the Timeform Novices’ Handicap with Arturio (5-1), who may follow up at Wincanton on Thursday, while the champion trainer’s Five Dream (3-1 favourite) held on to the Brightwells Cheltenham Bloodstock Auctions Handicap Hurdle, virtually guaranteeing a place in the totesport Trophy in the process.

Ruby Walsh did the steering on both occasions.

Daryl Jacob sat tight through a blunder at the fourth-last as Maljimar (11-2) strode away with the betchronicle.com Trophy Chase Handicap.