Cheltenham Festival: Thursday review including Pertemps Final success for Sire Du Berlais

Super Sire goes back-to-back

Sire Du Berlais won the Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle for the second year in succession as Gordon Elliott's charge defied top weight in the hands of Barry Geraghty.

Geraghty has enjoyed a fine week and managed to get another Festival winner on the board for high-powered owner JP McManus.

He secured his place in the Final via the Warwick qualifier on January 11, in which he finished an eyecatching fourth behind Silver Sheen.

Sire Du Berlais was competing from a 7lb higher mark than when successful last March but it didn't stop him scoring by half a length from Elliott stablemate The Storyteller, who came there cruising under Davy Russell at the last but couldn't see off the tenacious winner.

Irish-trained horses dominated the first three places with Noel Meade's Tout Est Permis six and a half lengths further back in third at 12/1.

Fourth went to Hughie Morrison's Third Wind at 12/1, with former Champion Bumper heroine Relegate (12/1) - now in the care of Colm Murphy - staying on from the back of the field to be 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 afaid 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 postcript to the race, as it was announced Copper Gone West had suffered a fatal injury.

Her trainer Tim Vaughan said: "She broke an offside fetlock. She was travelling like a dream, but something must have gone wrong going down the hill. It's devastating. She was a nice progressive horse who had long-term broodmare prospects."

Elliott takes Kim Muir

Milan Native claimed a length-and-three-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."

Betts lands the Plate bets

Simply The Betts (10/3 favourite) landed a significant gamble in the Brown Advisory & Merriebelle Stable Plate Handicap Chase

Harry Whittington was gaining quick compensation after Saint Calvados' agonising defeat in the Ryanair Chase and jumping the last his charge had beaten off all of his rivals bar Happy Diva (20/1).

For a stride or two she looked a serious danger up the hill but the market leader soon shrugged off her challenge and went on to score by a length-and-a-half.

Mister Whittaker (22/1) and Oldgrangewood (11/1) came home in third and fourth with Ben Dundee (10/1) fifth.

Whittington said: "It's about everyone else, I'm thrilled for them. We've had five goes this week and been getting closer and now we've got there. It's been a great team effort, Laura Collett (eventer) has done lots of work with him over his jumping.

"I wouldn't know what we'd do next, but he's a proper horse. He's still improving, but he's had some hard races this season. Today he was a little bit behind the bridle, whereas in January he was hard on it the whole way. I'm just so proud of him, but I don't know what we'll do know, he's hard three hard races since Christmas. We'll let the dust settle."

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