Cheltenham Saturday
Nyetimber December Gold Cup
IT was a case of third time lucky for the connections of Gemirande as the eight-year-old landed the Nyetimber December Gold Cup for Venetia Williams, Charlie Deutsch, and owners the Bellamy Partnership.
Williams won the feature with Niceonefrankie in 2014, but both Aso and Cepage were runners-up in these colours with Deutsch riding and the King’s Caple stable-jockey produced a superb ride to gain an overdue win in the £125,000 sponsored event.
Originally settled in midfield on the outside of the pack, it was clear that the pace would not be strong, and fluent leaps at the early obstacles allowed Deutsch to manoeuvre his mount to the front by the fourth fence without having to light him up and a round of ground-saving leaps from that point gained him a big enough advantage to stave off his rivals.
A mid-air collision with the challenging Madara (Dan/Harry Skelton) at the penultimate fence may have made a difference to the winning margin, if not the actual result, with Gemirande finding more when challenged up the hill to win by a length.
Williams, fresh from her win with Djelo in the Peterborough Chase, said: “It’s been amazing this season. You always look at the big races that are on offer and see if you have anything for them.
Quickened
“I actually had this horse entered in the Paddy Power Gold Cup, but he was out of the weights, so we went to Ascot instead. The way he quickened from the last to the line at Ascot – I hadn’t seen something like that for a long time. I thought after that we have to now go to Cheltenham.
Charlie Deutsch, who had to waste to get down to 10st2lb for the ride said: “It is always amazing when you win round here in big races. I was having a great spin and in fairness I love this horse. He’s a real character and quite ignorant in his ways and you don’t want to take him on – the more you pull the faster he goes.
“His jumping was electric. The way he ran round Ascot last time was impressive and he’s run in a lot of races here at around two and a half miles and has been very unlucky. I’m chuffed for him to get his head in front as he loves racing and is really enthusiastic.
“I could feel Madara’s presence. We weren’t big over the last, but he is very clever in getting in close and getting away. Venetia is a magician with what she does with her horses.”
PROFESSOR Caroline Tisdall could hardly have found a better gift on her 79th birthday than for Jet Blue (David Cottin/James Reveley) to win the Grade 2 Bristol Novices’ Hurdle and set himself up for a crack at the Albert Bartlett at the Festival in March.
The five-year-old was a high-class performer in AQPS races in his native France but had stamina to prove trying three miles for the first time.
He was held up at the rear of the field in the early stages but worked his way easily into contention and hit the front before the home turn, chased by Western Knight (Joe Tizzard/Brendan Powell).
If there were any stamina worries, Reveley didn’t betray them and the pair stayed on well after the last to win by six and a half lengths, with favourite Skyjack Hijack disappointing, and perhaps in need of a break after building up a sequence of wins since August.
Multiple champion jockey
Reveley is a multiple champion jockey in France, but was having just a second win at Cheltenham, and he quipped after the race: “Funnily enough, the trainer asked me when my last winner here was, and I said I think it was when I was still a claimer!
“He is a nice horse, and I knew the step up to three miles would suit. He galloped really strongly all the way to the line. He has always been a little bit sticky at his jumps. We went a nice gallop, and I just thought I’d take my time on the first lap and put him into it on the next lap. Once I got him in the van, he was a lot happier.”
THERE was a dead-heat in opening juvenile hurdle when Quantock Hills (Warren Greatrex/James Bowen) was joined on the line by Teriferma (Jack Jones/Sean Bowen). Quantock Hills went a few lengths up after the last but wandered around and only just held on for a share of the spoils as Teriferma launched a strong late run which would have succeeded in another stride.
Sean Bowen said: “That is something that has never happened before and will probably never happen again. It is good to have done it at Cheltenham. I was struggling throughout but he’s a very strong stayer. He probably jumped a bit high but hopefully that will sharpen up. I thought I was coming to pass him, but I didn’t know the result. A dead-heat we’ll take!”
James Bowen said: “To share it with my brother is better than anyone else. I’d have felt really hard done by if I had got done. We just got challenged on the wrong side but to be fair he was class all the way round.
“He’d probably jump a fence as he’s very slick over his hurdles. He’s improved with each run since he’s been over here, and Warren’s horses are flying at the moment.”
The brothers also dominated the finish of the Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase which followed, with Haiti Couleurs (Rebecca Curtis/Sean Bowen) jumping well on the front end and comfortably holding the late lunge of Transmission (Neil Mulholland/James Bowen).
Both horses are being considered for the new National Hunt Chase in March, with Mulholland saying of Transmission: “That would be his prime target; he’s had three runs around Cheltenham now and he’s been second, first and second. He did his best work at the end, so we’re well aware that he wants stepping up in trip.”