Happy days as Diva shows star quality
• Betvictor Gold Cup winner bounces back from last year’s disappointment
Twelve months on from being brought down when going well in the Betvictor Gold Cup, Happy Diva put the record straight to lift the valuable Cheltenham handicap chase for trainer Kerry Lee and jockey Richard Patrick on Saturday.
Not letting last year’s disappointment play on his mind, 3lb claimer Patrick showed he could handle the big occasion after steering the 14-1 shot to glory by a fast-diminishing neck, claiming the biggest success of his career in the process.
Patrick said: “Last year we were going really well. We got to four out and got brought down. It was bad luck last year, but this year definitely makes up for it.”
Lee said: “Richard has ridden her through her entire chase career and he rides her a home at lot. We knew she would come on for Wetherby, but we didn’t think she would come on quite this much.
“With a circuit to go, I thought Richard had her absolutely perfectly positioned and I couldn’t have been happier to be honest.”
Willie Mullins won a tenth Unibet Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown as Saldier overturned his odds-on stablemate Klassical Dream.
Saldier was having his first run since he fell when seemingly travelling better than subsequent ill-fated Champion Hurdle winner Espoir D’allen last November.
He suffered a broken nose and was given plenty of time to heal – making his return from 371 days on the sidelines here.
Everything seemed to be going to plan for Klassical
Dream, but there was little response when Paul Townend pressed the button and Saldier swept by to win by a length and a half under Danny Mullins. Petit Mouchoir split the Mullins pair in second.
Former Champion Hurdle hero Faugheen was another of Mullins’ four winners as he overcame a couple of jumping errors to make a successful chasing debut at the age of 11.
The honours at Cheltenham yesterday went to course specialist Defi Du Seuil, who outpointed the pace-setting Politologue to win the Shloer
Chase for trainer Philip Hobbs and jockey Barry Geraghty. Defi Du Seuil was cut to 15-8 from 5-2 for the Tingle Creek at Sandown next month, and Hobbs confirmed that would be the immediate target.
He said: “It was never going to be ideal when the pace is that slow, so I’m delighted he’s won.
“He obviously stays very well, but he has loads of pace. We’ll take it race by race, but I’d imagine he will go the
Tingle Creek. Sandown is stiffer than here, so it will probably suit him.”
Harambe bounced back to form with a game display to land the Unibet Greatwood Handicap Hurdle.
Having disappointed on his seasonal debut five weeks ago, Alan King’s six-year-old was sent off a 16-1 chance for this valuable contest under Tom Bellamy – and those who kept the faith were rewarded.
In a finish of necks, Harambe prevailed from Gumball and Monsieur Lecoq.
Put The Kettle On gave a brave front-running display under Aidan Coleman to win the Arkle Trophy Trial Novices’ Chase.
The Henry de Bromheadtrained mare had run six times since May, including three wins over fences, and she made full use of that experience as she kept up the gallop to score by two and a half lengths from Al Dancer.
• Today’s meeting at Leicester has been abandoned because the course is waterlogged.