BRIAN Ellison ended a lean run at Cheltenham as Definitly Red ran out a convincing winner of the Grade 2 BetBright Trial Cotswold Chase.

The north eastern trainer has suffered plenty of disappointments at the home of National Hunt racing, but went on record as saying this was the best horse he had ever brought down south.

Having progressed through handicaps last year, the nine-year-old was nearly brought down in the Grand National but a performance of this nature marks him down as a real Gold Cup prospect.

The race had quickly changed in complexion turning for home, as American, who seemed to be going well in front, was passed by Definitly Red and the favourite, Bristol De Mai.

However, the grey Bristol De Mai had made a series of niggly errors and they caught up with him as Danny Cook bounded clear on the 7/1 winner, with American plugging on for second, eight lengths away.

Bristol De Mai finished third, not looking the horse who was so impressive in the Betfair Chase in November.

Cook told ITV Racing: "He stayed on really well. He got a bit lonely in front and had a good look.

"I'd like to dedicate that to my grandad, who is not very well, we don't know how much longer he's got, he said he'd love to see me ride a winner at Cheltenham and he has.

"This horse is going from strength to strength, he gave me a nice feel today."

Ellison said: "That was brilliant. He's class, isn't he? Danny gave him a great ride, he gets on great with him.

"I thought the other horse (American) was going better, but Danny took a pull to lie a couple of lengths off him and when he gave him a kick in the belly he took off.

"He's just got better every year and the plan this year was to keep him fresh. Today would tell us if we went for the Gold Cup, so we'll go now.

"He wants good ground, I think he'll be better on it as he's not short of speed. He just doesn't like it tacky.

"It's a good place to have a winner. You've got to have a good horse to come here and he's the best I've ever trained."

FROST AGAIN

Bryony Frost notched yet another big Saturday winner as Frodon skipped clear in the home straight to win the Grade 3 Crest Nicholson Handicap Chase.

Carrying top weight after a string of consistent efforts, the 5lb Frost took off the Paul Nicholls-trained 13/2 chance was a massive help.

After scooting up the rail on the home bend, Frodon cleared away from O O Seven impressively, with Shantou Flyer staying on for second 17 lengths away. King's Odyssey was third.

Frost said: "My only worry today was that he'd be too keen but he settled and jumped, it was the perfect training performance.

"He relishes the ground and the step down in trip was perfect. He never stops, when you ask he gives it to you.

"What a beautiful feeling it is coming up this hill on a horse like this. He's only at the start of his career, he's just left primary school and now he's playing with the big boys."

Lizzie Kelly also got on the scoresheet when partnering Agrapart to victory in the Grade 2 galliardhomes.com Cleeve Hurdle, beating Wholestone by three lengths after a determined battle from the last.

The 9/1 winner is trained by Nick Williams and the French-bred seven-year-old is not currently entered in the Stayers' Hurdle at the festival.

Santini wore down Black Op to win the Ballymore Classic Novices' Hurdle for Nicky Henderson. Jerry McGrath was the lucky recipient of the riding with Nico de Boinville preferring Pacific De Baune, who was well-beaten.

Tom George's Black Op appeared to have the race in safe-keeping running to the last but he met it all wrong. That gave Santini a chance and he was able to maintain his unbeaten record, scoring by three-quarters of a length at 4/1.

McGrath said: "I wasn't seeing a stride at the last, but for a big horse he's very agile and popped it nicely. He's tall, he's a horse for the future. We didn't think he'd cope with the ground today, thankfully he coped with it. He'd bred to be a three-miler and he'll improve for that."

Henderson said: "He's a lovely, big horse but he's only a baby still. He's going to be a lovely chaser.

"He'll get an entry in the Albert Bartlett, and if you're not in you can't run, but unless we change our minds I think we are all leaning against it at the moment.

"I think he wants another year and come back as a chaser."

Apple's Shakira maintained her unbeaten record in the Grade 2 JCB Triumph Trial Juvenile Hurdle at Cheltenham, although she was made to work hard for her victory.

Sent off the 1/7 favourite having been ultra-impressive in her two previous outings for Nicky Henderson, she briefly looked in trouble turning into the straight.

Tom Scudamore stole a few lengths from the front on John Quinn's Look My Way and Barry Geraghty had to ask a few questions of the filly approaching the last but she ultimately ran out an eight-length winner.

The big disappointment of the race was Philip Hobbs' French import Elixir De Nutz, who finished last.

Henderson said: "Barry said at the last meeting she'd like better ground. She had to work there, but she's very lazy at home. She had to come out and race, but she won't run again.

"We've had to wait for better ground for a lot of these horses and it will be the same next weekend, but they've got to run."

"One thing she loves doing is jumping, she's very slick and solid at it. She did what she did and she went away. They didn't hang about, I thought they went a reasonably good gallop.

"She's always having a buck and a kick at home, but when you go to do work, you wonder how on earth did she win a race?

"Barry said ideally something like the Adonis would have been a great race to get the better ground, but we were always coming here. It's job done and away we go. She'll have multiple entries but I'm thinking the Triumph."

Geraghty said: "It's tough work out there, she settled better today and travelled great. I was always trying to switch her off and then had to switch her back on. She had loads in the tank and there's a lot to like. It's workmanlike conditions and better ground will only help her."

TRAVELLED GREAT

Mister Whitaker answered all the questions to win the Timeform Novices' Handicap Chase.

Mick Channon's six-year-old had to prove he could handle much deeper ground and his effectiveness on the track, as he was having his first run at Cheltenham.

He travelled smoothly for Adrian Heskin and everything looked like going to the script when he jumped to the front at the last.

However, having seemingly put the race to bed, he began to idle on the run-in before holding off Theatre Territory by a length and three-quarters.

Channon said of his 6/1 winner: "He travelled great on the ground, we just didn't want to be in front too long, he pulls up in front. Adrian got him in a good rhythm and I can't say a lot more.

"Tim (Radford, owner) wants to go for the novice handicap (Close Brothers) and if he goes up enough (in the weights) that's where he'll go."

Channon joked: "It's easy this jumping game! I thought he'd win last time at Kempton but they let the other one (Hell's Kitchen) have a soft lead.

"He's going the right way, we're pleased with him, we always thought he was nice and he's come good. If he goes up four or five pounds he'll have a fighting chance of getting in at the Festival.

"Henrietta (Knight) bought him as a three-year-old from Tom Costello, whom she bought Best Mate from."