Local Hero takes Cheltenham prize

Steve Gollings can take a serious look at the Festival after Local Hero passed his test in the JCB Triumph Hurdle Trial at Cheltenham today.

Unbeaten from starts at Doncaster and Wetherby, the youngster was a little slap-dash at at the fourth-last and the final flight but Tony McCoy had enough left up the final hill to force the 15-8 favourite past the game Third Intention to win by two lengths.

"That was brilliant - he came here with questions to answer and he has done that," said Gollings.

"They didn't go fast enough for him and he was still a bit novicey but he's only a new kid on the block.

"It's great for a small yard and he'll have an entry in the Fred Winter back here, but I think we'll look seriously at the Triumph."

William Hill offer only 14-1 about his Triumph chances.

It was proving a day for the smaller training establishments as David Bridgwater's The Giant Bolster grabbed the Timeform Novices' Handicap Chase from top weight.

The gambled-on 5-1 shot appeared to be struggling to go the pace at the top of the hill, when Jamie Moore and Vino Griego set sail for home.

But The Giant Bolster and Rodi Greene appeared to perk up with a sight of the finish, taking advantage of Vino Griego's rather lacklustre jumping by two and a quarter lengths.

Bridgwater said: "I think this is a very good horse and it's all about looking after him for the next two years, by which time he'll be mixing it with the very best.

"Rodi gave him a fantastic ride and he's crying out for three miles. I think he'll go to the RSA Chase with a right shout and I'll wrap him up until then."

Wishfull Thinking produced a thrilling display of jumping for a novice to defeat the seasoned professionals in the Murphy Group Chase.

Philip Hobbs had evidently been tempted to take advantage of a favourable handicap mark despite his charge having run over fences only three times before.

With a first-time tongue-tie, the 9-2 favourite he did not let him down.

Richard Johnson rode Wishfull Thinking very positively and although at one stage it looked like Calgary Bay was about to overcome him, the pair found another gear and collected by three and a half lengths.

"Richard was of the opinion that if the ground is good at Cheltenham he could get three miles for the RSA," said Hobbs.

"Otherwise he would have no problems staying at this trip for the Jewson.

"He was terrific today."

The Paul Nicholls-trained Neptune Collonges bounced back to his best by making every yard of the running in the Argento Chase under Tony McCoy.

The grey was third in the Cheltenham Gold Cup back in 2008 and fourth a year later, but had been disappointing since return from a spell on the sidelines.

Ridden positively by the champion jockey, the 11-2 chance was allowed an easy lead and jumped exuberantly throughout the three-mile-one-furlong Grade Two.

He had all of his rivals in trouble coming down the hill and while the enigmatic Tidal Bay finished with a flourish having looked likely to be tailed off at one stage, he was unable to claw back the determined grey, who passed the post with a length and a quarter in hand.

McCoy said: "He didn't run as badly as the form suggested last time and Paul just told me to go a nice gallop on him as we know he stays well.

"We thought there were a few doubts about Punchestowns and Tidal Bay so the plan was to get them at it.

"He's an older horse who knows his way around and he's just a pleasure to ride."

Nicholls added: "I'm thrilled for the horse. It's been a long road back but he was unlucky in the Hennessy Gold Cup when we thought he would run well and he missed the break last time, but it didn't do him any harm and he had a good run round.

"It's good to see him come back and win a nice race. I told AP to make every post a winning one.

"He's got an entry for the National and an entry for a Gold Cup, but we'll see how he is and have a chat about the future."

William Hill make Neptune Collonges 33-1 for the Gold Cup back at Cheltenham in March, while he is a 25-1 chance for the Grand National at Aintree.

Tidal Bay's trainer Howard Johnson said: "They didn't go fast enough for him and we might as well go for the Gold Cup, as where else do you go?"

Nicky Henderson, trainer of the well-beaten favourite Punchestowns, added: "Barry (Geraghty) was very pleased with his jumping. He's taken a blow and he does take a massive amount of work to get ready.

"We wanted to come here to get a run into him and we'll press on. I'd love to get another run into him, but where do you go? I'm not sure you'd want to go for the AON Chase at Newbury in a fortnight."

Nicky Henderson's Bobs Worth claimed what looks certain to be an informative Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle.

The six-year-old was sent off at 7-2 having won on his first couple of starts over obstacles and was always travelling kindly for Barry Geraghty.

Taken wide into the straight, he had both Backspin and the strong-travelling Rock On Ruby to contend with heading towards the final flight, but he began to kick clear on the run to the line for a two-and-a-quarter-length success.

Rock On Ruby ran a fine race to fill the runner-up spot, while Habbie Simpson ran on late to claim third with Backspin weakening disappointingly.

Geraghty said: "Myself and my brother bought this horse as a yearling and Nicky stole him off me!

"He's a very good horse. He was very green during the race but wasn't going to get beaten after the last.

"That was a good race and he couldn't have done any more than he did."

Henderson added: "It was a good performance. I thought we might be flying a bit high coming here but the amazing thing about this horse is that he's very laid back and he's got a great attitude.

"He travelled very well and he's gone away in the end. He'll go straight to the Festival."