Confident win for Tidal Bay at Carlisle
Tidal Bay confirmed he will be a major contender for top honours this season with a virtually faultless performance in the Colin Parker Memorial Intermediate Chase at Carlisle today.
The Arkle Trophy hero made a slight mistake at the fourth fence but was otherwise never troubled, travelling powerfully throughout despite his characteristic high head carriage.
Denis O'Regan gave Howard Johnson's 4-11 favourite a shake of the reins after the third-last and he jumped two out in front.
He finished full of running, with his ears pricked as he sauntered over the line 11 lengths clear of Rimsky.
Royal & SunAlliance winner Albertas Run was never a danger and finished last of the four runners after getting in tight to the fifth-last and soon coming under pressure.
Bookmaker reaction was immediate, with William Hill going 6-1 from 8s about the winner for the King George and 14s from 16s for the Gold Cup.
VC Bet mirrored the move for the King George and go 12-1 from 14-1 for the Gold Cup.
Totesport quote the seven-year-old at 7-1 for the King George and 5-1 for the Queen Mother Champion Chase.
Delighted owner Graham Wylie said: "Denis said Tidal Bay was a bit fresh and that is why he made a mistake at the fourth, but he jumped brilliantly afterwards."
Tidal Bay's Cheltenham success had come over two miles, and he was racing over two and a half miles here.
Wylie added: "At the moment we are no further forward in deciding where we go but at least we know he can step up in trip (from two miles).
"Howard's idea before the start of the season was to take on Master Minded in the Tingle Creek and then see how we went after that."
O'Regan said: "I was very pleased with him. I knew a long way out we would win and good jumps over the last two sealed it.
"I don't know what Howard is going to do with him now. Although he was running over two and a half miles don't forget he was won an Arkle.
"He made one mistake early doors, basically due to him being fresh. It's a pleasure to ride a horse like him. I don't want to blow him up too much but he is a really nice horse. He stood me in good stead last season and hopefully he will again. Mentally he might be stronger this season."
Johnson and O'Regan struck earlier as Companero made a winning start to life over fences with victory in the Edinburgh Woollen Mill Beginners' Chase at Carlisle.
The ground was testing but the eight-year-old relished the extended three miles and taking up the running at the second-last he kept up the gallop in dour fashion to hold off Nine De Sivola by three lengths.
Johnson was represented by his assistant Ray Hawkey, who said of the 10-11 favourite: "He will improve for the run, he is a big stuffy horse.
"Denis said he jumped like a stag and gave him a tremendous feel at every fence - he gets a trip well and hopefully he will go on from this."
See You There (17-2) has quite a liking for the Cumbrian track, and he ran out a very game winner of the Coors Cumberland Handicap Chase in the hands of Peter Buchanan.
It looked as if Idle Talk was going to take the honours landing over the last, but See You There is nothing if not a battler and he responded to all Buchanan's calls to get his head in front in the last 100 yards and edge a length clear.
Trainer Lucinda Russell said: "I like winning races, but like winning feature races like this even more, and being Scottish, I can tell you exactly how much the winning prize is (£26,020).
"See You There loves this track, it is his fifth win here, and there is no doubt that a wind operation has helped him. He is jumping a lot better this season."
Cavers Glen confirmed the promise he had shown when third on his seasonal debut with a decisive success under Brian Harding in the Happy Birthday Geoffrey and Graham McLean Handicap Chase.
Harding sent the 11-1 chance to the head of affairs at the second-last fence, and he kept him going well on the run-in to hold off Malko De Beaumont by one and three-quarter lengths.
Winning trainer Alistair Whillans said: "I think he has improved a bit with age, he has been knocking on the door, so he was due a win, and he likes soft ground, though I did think it might be a bit tacky for him today.
"Things did not go very well for us last season, but it has picked up now, and we have 20 in the yard, so hopefully there is some more to look forward to."
Sue Smith's recent course winner Teenando (11-8 favourite) defied a 9lb ride for that success to double up under conditional Tjade Collier in the Edinburgh Woollen Mill Novices' Handicap Chase.
Smith's husband Harvey said: "He is a nice horse, he was dropping back in trip but he has gone and done it well."
Conditional Steven Gagan was taken to hospital "for X-rays on his neck and back" after parting company with Tully Hill who almost came down at the first fence.
Moustique De L'Isle (6-4 favourite) defied top weight under Mark Bradburne in the marathon Lloyd Volvo XC60 Handicap Chase, after which trainer Chris Bealby said: "He is a bit of a monkey in his old age, but he has dropped in the handicap and as he needs a real stiff test this race was ideal for him.
"He could go on and win again now and Mark (Bradburne) gets on really well with him, he has ridden him four times and won twice and finished second twice."
