Back-to-back wins continue truly fine festival for Gordon
SIRE Du Berlais led home a Gordon Elliott one-two as he recorded back-toback victories in the Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham.
Continuing a fine Festival for Elliott as well as jockey Barry Geraghty and owner JP McManus, Sire Du Berlais (10-1) was revitalised by wearing blinkers for the first time.
The Storyteller, Sire Du Berlais and Tout Les Permis jumped the last virtually together, and it was the first two from the Elliott stable who pulled away.
Sire Du Berlais, carrying top-weight, got on top close home to land the spoils by half a length. Tout Les Permis was six-and-half-lengths away in third place, with Third Wind fourth and Relegate a never-nearer fifth.
When asked which one he was shouting for, Elliott said: “I didn’t care, both of them ran well and the horses are running out of their skin.
“He won it a bit easier than last year, the blinkers help him travel that bit better.
“I’ll have to talk to the owners and see what he does next. The Storyteller ran a brilliant race too and had no excuses. I’d imagine we could look at Punchestown for both.”
Geraghty said: “I know he’d 11st 9lb last year, but even with 11st 12lbs he had a chance. The Storyteller was the horse I was afraid of. I had to push the ears of him most of the race last year, but he travelled great this year and I could ride a race and was able to deliver.
“There’s nothing better than riding winners at Cheltenham.”
There was a sad postscript to the race, as it was announced Copper Gone West had suffered a fatal injury.
Simply The Betts gave Harry Whittington a first Cheltenham Festival winner when lifting the Brown Advisory & Merriebelle Stable Plate Handicap Chase.
Milan Native claimed a length-andthree-quarter success in the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Amateur Riders’ Handicap Chase to provide Elliott with a treble on the day.
The seven-year-old took the wide route around the final bend after gaining ground from the middle of the field, jumping into second place over the last obstacle before picking off last year’s runner-up Kilfilum Cross to succeed at 9-1 under Robert James.
Henry Oliver’s Kilfilum Cross was again second best, with the Warren Greatrex-trained Bob Mahler a further length and a half behind.
Elliott said: “This race has been the plan for the last few weeks for this horse, especially after we decided to run Ravenhill in the other race (National Hunt Chase).
“It’s a race we like to win and Rob gave him a great ride.
“We decided we wanted to claim off him and he’s very good value for his 7lb.
“He’s a top rider and a top man.”