Gauvain king of the castle
Charlie Mann is revelling in his best-ever season and Gauvain provided him with another Cheltenham Festival contender when taking the Grade Two Kilbrittain Castle Novices’ Chase at Sandown.
With totesport Gold Cup hope Air Force One snugly tucked up in his Lambourn yard, Mann unearthed an outsider for the Arkle as Gauvain claimed a neck success under Noel Fehily.
Coral make the seven-year-old a 33-1 chance for the two-mile test after he put his stamina to good use and clawed back Cornas for a neck victory, with 15-8 favourite Free World a half-length down in third.
Mann said of his 8-1 winner: “He had a wind operation after running at Lingfield and had a penalty kick at Fontwell last time and he fell over.
“We’ve had to wait until today to see if the operation worked and he has got home well.
“He doesn’t do a stroke so won’t have had a hard race and will to go Cheltenham now. He is in both the Arkle and the Jewson, and will probably run in the Arkle after that.”
According To Dick clicked at the second time of asking over timber and foiled a gamble on Paul Nicholls’ Royal Charm in the Ladies At The Races “National Hunt” Novices’ Hurdle.
The latter was punted into 11-10 favouritism and looked to be going the best until Philip Hobbs’ 2-1 winner forged past before the last to run out a tidy winner, and provide Richard Johnson with his 100th winner of the campaign.
Hobbs’ wife Sarah said: “Richard said he was green in front but jumped well and that good ground is ideal for him.
“I have spoken to Philip and he said that he is just a possible for Cheltenham.”
William Hill and totesport trimmed According To Dick into 25-1 for the Ballymore Properties Novices’ Hurdle.
Nick Gifford hot-footed it to West London from Warwick and his journey down the M40 paid dividends as 11-1 chance Cathedral Rock stayed on strongly in first-time blinkers to land the Hurst Park Handicap Hurdle.
Gifford said: “There is no doubt the blinkers have worked and he does need a positive ride.
“We’ll probably keep him over hurdles this year and send him back chasing next season.”
Favourite backers enjoyed an easy-as-you-like victory courtesy of 2-1 market leader Pepsyrock in the Telegraph Hill Handicap Chase.
Nicky Henderson’s French import was cantering all over Coach Lane approaching the final fence and cleared away up the hill for a facile eight-length success under Barry Geraghty.
Henderson said: “It wasn’t the greatest of races and we shouldn’t get too carried away with that performance.
“He has been threatening to win races and he does jump well.”
Stance (14-1) has been reinvigorated by a switch to timber and recorded a quick double in the Ashdowns (Chartered Surveyors) Conditionals’ Handicap Hurdle.
Gary Moore’s veteran had been good enough to take second in the 2005 County Hurdle, and after a couple of years in the wilderness has bounced back to form and provided Charlie Wallis with his eighth win under Rules.
Aidan Coleman got to within two of riding out his claim when steering Zacharova (13-2) to success in the Mike Dawson Memorial Handicap Chase, while Paul Nicholls had to wait until the closing Hampton Court Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race to get on the scoreboard with 4-1 chance Recif De Thaix.
