Cheltenham Wednesday

and Thursday

CHELTENHAM’S April Meeting took place with minimal fanfare during the week, but there were a few notable performances.

The meeting began with its traditional showcase, the Silver Trophy Chase, a Grade 2 limited handicap, which went to Nicky Henderson’s Caribean Boy (Daryl Jacob) at 28/1.

Runner-up Gemirande was demoted for crossing Super Six after the last but, while that was justified, the winner scored on merit under a well-judged waiting ride.

Madera Mist took her record at this meeting to 2-1-1 when winning the Holman Handicap Chase for Tim Vaughan and Alan Johns, for whom Eva’s Oskar was running a blinder in the Grand National before effectively being brought down while still travelling strongly.

Gordon Elliott was on the mark with The Friday Man (Sean Bowen) in the Citipost Novices’ Hurdle, the 9/2 winner scoring in the colours of Michael Hanrahan.

Elliott looked set for a double in the finale when By Your Side loomed up to lead between the last two, but that gelding needs delivering at the last moment, and he was readily picked off by Kerry Lee’s Black Poppy (Luca Morgan) up the hill.

Captain Cattistock (Fergal O’Brien/Liam Harrison) missed the cut by one in the Grand National, but he gained ample compensation when landing the Weatherite Air Conditioning Handicap Chase, getting to the front after the last before idling, and was all out to withhold the late challenge of Lord du Mesnil by a quickly diminishing three-quarters of a length.

Surprise winner

On Thursday, Walk In Clover was a surprise winner of the EBF Mares’ Novices’ Chase Final, another Grade 2 limited handicap.

Dan Skelton’s mare was a stone wrong at the weights but made smooth headway to tackle the Cian Collins-trained Effernock Fizz at the final fence before going on to win by three lengths at an SP of 16/1.

Those who chose to take at face value the winner’s second to Effernock Fizz at Ludlow in February when meeting that mare on 22lb worse terms were amply rewarded.

Another mare gaining an overdue win over jumps was Ahorsewithnoname (Nicky Henderson/Nico De Boinville), who was runner-up in the Dawn Run at last year’s Festival but was gaining her first win over timber when taking the Listed Catesby Estate Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle from Martin Keighley’s previously unbeaten Zestful.

The winner rewarded her loyal supporters at 7/2, and the Henderson/de Boinville combination completed an 18/1 double in the Fillies’ Juvenile Handicap Hurdle courtesy of Under Control, who looks a nice prospect despite flopping in the aforementioned Dawn Run last month. She’s otherwise unbeaten, and that was clearly not her running.