Cheltenham Sunday review: Reports, reaction and free video replays

• REPORT: I Like To Move It defies top weight in Greatwood to tee up International Hurdle bid

REPORT: Nube Negra makes light work of two rivals in Shloer repeat

Fennor first again for McConnell

John McConnell’s Fennor Cross stayed on strongly to land a decisive blow in the Sky Bet Supreme Trial Novices’ Hurdle.

In a race where the hurdles were removed in the home straight it was the winner’s fellow Irish raider She Is Electric that was allowed to stride on with the rest of the field willing to bide their time.

The gap was closed as they approached what would be the final flight of hurdles and although She Is Electric left the ground with a narrow advantage it was Olly Murphy’s Ukantango who had edged in front by the time the runners straightened for home.

However, as they bypassed the usual final flight of hurdles, Fennor Cross was just beginning to hit top gear in the hands of Simon Torrens, and he galloped on strongly up the hill to score at 3/1.

The five-year-old was a six-and-a-half-length winner over course and distance during the Showcase meeting last month and quickly added to his laurels while highlighting himself as a possible contender for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle itself back here in March.

Sponsors Sky Bet introduced him into the market for the Cheltenham Festival opener at 40/1, and McConnell said: “Credit has to go to Andy O’Brien who owns the horse with some of the guys and said, ‘what about this race’. I said we’ll enter and see. The horse is in great form after his win here a couple of weeks ago.

“We were wrong at the weights with some of them, but thought we’d still have a crack at it. He is still improving. When he won the last day Simon said he was still a baby and it was a good performance.

"I don’t know if he is Supreme quality, but it will certainly give us something to think about anyway. Who cares? He won well, he goes on any ground really, so it is something to think about. He is tough and hasn’t missed a beat all year on the Flat and over hurdles.

"He is just a tough horse and very easy to train – if they were all like that it would be a pleasure. He is very relaxed he was lying down in his box all day today, just relaxed, not tired. He could probably drive the lorry for you! He is a pro at that."

He added: “We’ll see if there is anything around Christmas. This wasn’t the plan until Monday, so we will see what happens. He is probably entitled to a break and maybe brought back for spring ground and maybe back here in March – we’ll see.”

Olly Murphy, trainer of the second Ukantango, said: “He ran very well, that was a step up in grade and he ran a funny race really – I thought he was going nowhere at the top of the hill and he was in front at the bottom of it! He’s run well and I don’t know what we’ll do next as he’s had a very hard race but we’re very happy.

“I don’t know if we’ll go down the handicap route or the Graded route but we’ll see what kind of mark he gets."

Jonjo O’Neill, who saddled the third Springwell Bay, said: “He ran well and just wasn’t good enough unfortunately, that’s the bad news! We’ll see what he’s like tomorrow and we’ll take it from there, but he’s a nice horse and we’re happy with him."

Bailey Knows the score

Does He Know (6/1) landed the Jewson Handicap Chase, although successful trainer Kim Bailey admitted afterwards that the extended three miles and three furlongs Premier Handicap had not been the initial plan.

The seven-year-old Alkaased gelding was burdened with top-weight of 12 stone but that proved no issue as he was delivered perfectly at the last by jockey David Bass to go on and win by a length and three-quarters from Eva’s Oskar.

Bailey said: “I thought 12 stone was enough to stop any horse as he is not very big. We weren’t planning on coming here as we were meant to be going to Sandown last weekend. This was very much a full back as we had nowhere else to go. Nigel’s horse (Fantastikas) we had to give 6lbs to last weekend but 10lbs to today so we were wrong at the weights.

"I thought he was amazing. He has taken a huge step forward from what he has done before. It was his second time in his handicap and I’m absolutely thrilled. A lot of work with Laura Collet has been done with him as after he fell he completely lost his confidence. We came here today to let him enjoy himself and drop him in and let him relax and start enjoying his jumping. You could see when David got his confidence on him he started firing him into every fence possible.

"He is a tough individual and he has got no right to be a racehorse. He has got no pedigree. I got brought him here and he is a Yorkshire point-point horse. It is great for English point-to-pointing. He has run here several times and has always run good.

“The Grand National is not what it was and I’ve got a lot of owners who might not think it is a good idea but we will have to see how we get on with them. It is brilliant for them though.

“He is very diverse as he won on heavy ground at Ascot last year. Aye Right simply jumped right and knocked him over at Kelso and they clashed in mid-air. I think I’ve had five horses go there and they have all come down at the first! If he had got around at Kelso he wouldn’t have been here. It is all fate and I’m a great believer in that."

David Bass added: “He is not a Grand National horse but he is a good horse. He has got a lot of quirks but he is a good horse and that was a good performance off top weight.

“I just wanted to give him loads of room over the first few as he got jumped into at Kelso and I thought I needed to get him some confidence over the first four. He jumped them fine and I was always happy after that. His class just meant he could travel away behind the leaders in his comfort zone.

“The horse has surprised us the whole way through and I never thought he would be winning handicaps off 152. We like those ones that keep surprising us.”

Tim Vaughan, trainer of runner-up Eva's Oskar, said: “I’m absolutely thrilled. All of his form is on Soft or Heavy ground and we took a chance today with the extended trip. We hoped it would play out in our favour and he’s jumped and travelled so well so I’m very proud of him.

“It was a lovely run and while it’s a shame we couldn’t quite get our noses in front, there was nothing more we could have asked from him.

“We’ll probably consider the likes of the Welsh National – which was on the agenda last year – and we did think about the Cross Country race here as well. They’re two options at the moment but I think something like an Eider Chase would be right up his street, just something ever so slightly below that level of the Welsh National.

“If we can get him up to his eyes in muck and over as far a trip as possible, that would be perfect!”

Martin Keighley, trainer of third-placed Back On The Lash, said: “I’m thrilled with that, he jumped fantastically well. It’s just a shame that the Cross Country race couldn’t go ahead on Friday, because that was his main aim and this wasn’t the plan. In this kind of form we’ll freshen him up for the Cross Country race in December.”

Whacker kicks rivals into touch

A bold jump at the last put the seal on a fine debut over fences as The Real Whacker (10/1) won the Mallardjewellers.com Novices' Chase under Gavin Sheehan.

Patrick Neville's six-year-old was a good novice hurler last season, finishing second in Grade Two company at Doncaster in January, but could take even higher rank over the larger obstacles after seeing off Gordon Elliott's 5/2 shot Indigo Breeze by three-quarters of a length.

The pair - who had much of the race to themselves out in front - pulled a long way clear of eventual third Bardenstown Lad (11/10 favourite), who could only plug on at the one pace having come under the pump before the end of the first circuit.

Neville said: “This is his game, fences. I ran him here a couple of weeks ago and probably the ground was quick for him over hurdles and I was scratching my head going home, as I was disappointed with the run. I schooled him over fences and thought ‘this is his job’.

“He is a gorgeous horse. On softer ground, he’d probably be better. His jumping was outstanding. Gavin was outstanding on him. He went from the front and it is not easy for a horse, first time over fences, to do what he did.

“Gavin is very positive on the horses, that is why we use him.”

Explaining the set-up in Yorkshire, he added: “We moved over here 12 months ago. I was in Ireland and had plenty of winners, but was finding it hard. I am based at Anne Duffield’s. I was training the jumpers with Anne and she was doing the Flat horses, so we work well together.

“It is nice to have a winner today. We have a great team and a great team of staff and this one looks like he will stay further, definitely."

John McConnell, who trains Bardenstown Lad, was at a loss to explain the favourite’s run, after he needed reminders on the first circuit and was never travelling at any stage.

He said: “It is in his mind, I think. He didn’t want to do it. We will look at headgear and probably go back over hurdles.”

Harris left happy after impressive bumper win

The November Meeting came to a close with the Listed Autism In Racing At Cheltenham Open National Hunt Flat Race over an extended two miles which saw an impressive success from Gentle Slopes (12/1), who provided both trainer Milton Harris and jockey Harry Cobden with a second Prestbury Park success this weekend.

Always in a prominent position, the five year old Gentlewave gelding took a decisive advantage turning for home and went on to win impressively by four lengths from School Days Over.

Milton Harris said: “The run here last time was just a nonsense. They walked. This is a proper horse and I said to Anwar (Badri, owner) if he runs badly again I’ll look a fool.

“He is the apple of my eye. It is Anwar’s first winner here. I met him in a clothes shop though you wouldn’t know to look at us! He is much better dressed than I am. We just had a chat and he started picking my brains. I’m delighted for him as he has supported the yard. This is the most expensive horse that I have ever bought (£90,000 at the Tattersalls Cheltenham Festival Sale in March).

“What happened last time was a nonsense. We booked Harry today and he has had no say in decisions. He has made his mind up what he is going to do. He is a good horse.

"I think we will be going for graded hurdles now. He will make into a nice chaser. I’d say we will look for a maiden hurdle then go for the Challow Hurdle but that is what I’m thinking out loud at the moment and we will talk to the owner first."

Anwar Badri, the winning owner, said: “It is a dream to have a winner here. It is really amazing and I’m elated.

“It was a total farce the last race. The pace was slow and turned into a sprint then he got blocked but he picked up at the end. One would say why didn’t I put the mortgage on today but I was not that confident.

“Milton as I’ve said before is a character and a half. He is got an amazing team and I don’t know how drives them. I’ve huge respect for his team. I’ve been involved with racing for 12 years and I’ve been involved in syndicates but to own your own horse is chalk and cheese. Milton with his character and humbleness is great.”

More from Sporting Life

• Racecards
• Fast results
• Full results and free video replays
• Horse racing news
• Horse racing tips
• Horse racing features
• Download our free iOS and Android app
• Football and other sports tips
• Podcasts and video content

Safer gambling

We are committed in our support of safer gambling. Recommended bets are advised to over-18s and we strongly encourage readers to wager only what they can afford to lose.

If you are concerned about your gambling, please call the National Gambling Helpline / GamCare on 0808 8020 133.

Further support and information can be found at begambleaware.org and gamblingtherapy.org.