THE lure of the £100,000 bonus for winning the Morebattle Hurdle and any race at the Cheltenham Festival attracted a strong field to Kelso last Saturday, including raiders from the south of England and Ireland.

However, it was the locally-trained Benson (145) who set up the possibility of claiming next week’s bounty as he swooped late to deny Colonel Mustard (143), who travelled strongly throughout and looked all set to prevail crossing the final hurdle.

The pace was strong from the outset as Wajaaha (131) pressed Clear White Light (130) on the lead with Colonel Mustard in close proximity to the early gallop.

Crucially the winner was held up and in fact only had four rivals behind him as the field swung for home.

Relentless pace

The relentless pace continued heading out on the final circuit, illustrated by the handicap winner being required to reach the second last hurdle 1.5secs (seven lengths) ahead of Nemean Lion (139) who triumphed in the Grade 2 hurdle.

It was therefore inevitable the pace would slow in the final climb to the line, which suited the winner ideally as Ryan Mania switched his mount to take dead aim at Lorna Fowler’s eight-year-old who had led over the final hurdle.

The eventual winning margin was more than looked likely at the final hurdle as Sandy Thomson’s gelding covered the ground from the second last obstacle in 40.6secs which, when compared to the 39.4secs taken by Nemean Lion, saw the two races come closer together on the final circuit.

Colonel Mustard was reported to have sustained an overreach post-race which probably contributed to him fading close home.

Benson has entries in the Coral Cup and Martin Pipe Hurdle at the Festival with his chances of making the cut more likely in the last named.

A final hurdle blunder failed to derail the winning challenge of Nemean Lion as jockey Richard Patrick delivered Kerry Lee’s gelding to sweep past the front running Colonel Harry (137).

Any suspicion of Jamie Snowden’s gelding slowing at the finish is dispelled by his closing sectional of 40.1secs being sufficient to have held off the challenge of Benson.

Full of promise

Lorna Fowler would have been as pleased with Banjaxed (130) as she no doubt was with Colonel Mustard as the son of Blue Bresil ran a race full of promise on just his second start over hurdles.

Having raced in rear through the early stages of the contest rider Kieran Buckley asked him to close on the approach to the second last hurdle, from where he finished of his race in 39.9secs.

Ben Sutton continued his fruitful relationship with Santos Blue (125+), making it three wins from as many rides aboard Dan Skelton’s gelding in the two-and-a-half-mile handicap hurdle.

The time figure pointed to a slow early pace although the winner’s closing sectional of 40.8secs saw him draw within 1.6secs of Benson through the final circuit.

Ryan Mania picked Harry Skelton’s pocket to complete a big race double on the day for himself and trainer Sandy Thomson.

Took advantage

Although, armed with the knowledge that the closing sectional of 72.7secs was the slowest on the day, the evidence suggests Empire Steel (142) took advantage of Le Milos (142) slowing rather than quickening himself.

The sharpest finish of the day came in the opening race as Bill Baxter (135) and Half Shot (135) dominated throughout before fighting out the closest finish of the day.

Warren Greatrex’s seven-year-old prevailed by a head in the hands of Sean Bowen in clocking an impressive 70.9secs for his closing sectional. The finishing effort contributed to a final circuit 2.4secs quicker than the Premier Chase winner.

The pair pulled clear of High Moon (118) in third although, given the speedy finish, it could pay to give Rebecca Menzies’ eight-year-old a tracker entry for when he drops in grade which his current rating will allow.