G1 double is Terre-fic

LEADING owners Simon Munir and Isaac Souede had a magical five minutes as they chalked up a Grade One doubel.

At Leopardstown Footpad was an impresive winner in the Arkle Chase before Terrefort claimed victory in the scilly isles Novices at Sandown.

Footpad jumped his rivals into the ground and is now odds-on for the Arkle Trophy at the Cheltenham Festival.

Trainer Willie Mullins said:

“He did it the hard way and jumped well in front.

“We didn’t set out to make it but Paul Townend wasn’t happy there was enough pace so he went on. We are heading for the Arkle unless something else changes.”

Terrefort edged out Cyrname in an epic battle for the Scilly Isles and gave Daryl Jacob a fourth straight winner in the race.

Winning trainer Nicky Henderson, who saddled a treble at Sandown, said Terrefort might go for the JLT Chase at Cheltenham. He said: “I love horses that surprise you because you couldn’t watch anything slower at home. “It is great for Simon and Isaac as Footpad did it well in Ireland and they have got an Arkle horse. At Wetherby, Ballyoptic got his career back on trsack with a gritty victory in the Towton Novices’ Chase.

He was given a patient ride by Tom Bellamy (left) and jumped to the front at the last, holding off Vintage Clouds. It was a third victory in the race for Nigel Twiston-Davies. Bellamy, who was in the headlines for the wrong reasons at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day when stood down for failing a breath test, said: “He was brilliant, very professional. “Hopefully this will kick-start my career now.”