Chantry House keeps Gold Cup bid on track

CHANTRY HOUSE booked his Gold Cup ticket as he returned to winning ways with a hardearned success in the Paddy Power Cotswold Chase at Cheltenham.

After being pulled in the King George when sent off favourite at Kempton Park on Boxing Day, the Nicky Henderson-trained gelding had a point to prove as he lined up under Nico de Boinville for the five-runner affair.

The eight-year-old started as the 5-6 market leader but travelled only moderately at times, inching into the lead as his rivals tired before staying on in determined fashion for a two-and-a-half-length victory.

Former stablemate Santini kept him honest up the hill for new trainer Polly Gundry, with Harriet Graham’s Aye Right third under Callum Bewley.

The triumph was equally notable as a 4,000th winner for owner JP McManus, and Henderson said: “Well I think that’s wonderful, nothing gives me more pleasure than doing that and it’s lovely that it’s at Cheltenham. It’s here in a proper race at Cheltenham. Well done JP, he’s been an amazing friend and supporter and nothing gives me more pleasure, I can assure you. Well done boss!”

Of Chantry House, who was sporting cheekpieces for the first time, the Seven Barrows trainer said: “I’m pleased that’s done and he’s got the job done. He’s had a really good blow actually and he was tired, which is why Nico jumped off [after the line].

“I rather felt he had to win today to stay in ballgame for the Gold Cup.”

Paisley Park claimed his third successive victory in the Welsh Marches Stallions At Chapel Stud Cleeve Hurdle Cleeve Hurdle with an astonishing run that saw him almost left at the start.

The Emma Lavelle-trained gelding won the staying feature in both 2019 and 2020 before his 2021 bid for a treble was scuppered due to waterlogging – and this latest tilt looked well and truly blighted, too, as he spun round and lost lengths on the field.

Gradually eased back into it by Aidan Coleman, the 5-1 chance – winner of the Stayers’ Hurdle in 2019 – jumped the last level with 8-15 favourite Champ and powered up the hill to register a three-and-aquarter-length success that had at one stage looked an impossibility.