After a couple of close seconds, Gordon Elliott was relieved to get off the mark at this year's Cheltenham Festival with Ravenhill in the concluding National Hunt Chase, and now the Meath trainer can look forward to a few of his stronger chances this week.

Ravenhill, ridden by Jamie Codd, proved just too strong on the run-in against the brave runner-up Lord Du Mesnil (11/2) by two and a quarter lengths. Third-placed Lamanver Pippin (33/1) was 28 lengths further back, while the 10/11 favourite, Carefully Selected, fell at the final fence when looking most unlikely to trouble the first two.

Elliott, who had saddled two seconds earlier on the card by virtue of Abacadabras and Galvin, said: "To have a winner there was wonderful, and especially for these owners [Try Ravenhill Syndicate] who have supported us for a long time.

"Jamie gave him a great ride, and just hunted away giving the horse time. He travelled brilliantly. Jamie is a star and I'm very lucky to have him riding for me.

"The Irish National closes tomorrow, so we'll enter Ravenhill for that and he'll go straight there.

"Tomorrow is our big day, while today was our hardest day and we knew it would be tough to get a winner, so I'm delighted. There's lot to look forward to, but I'll have no trouble sleeping because I always sleep well."

It was Elliott's 26th Festival winner and perhaps more remarkably, Codd's 10th and third winner in the National Hunt Chase, having taken the race last year on Le Breuil.

Discussing the victory, Codd said: "We really liked this horse. He was fifth in a Galway Plate and second in a Kerry National and he sneaked into this race as a second-season novice.

"Gordon Elliott is a genius. He was originally going to run in the Kim Muir, but Gordon decided he wanted to go for this race. I told him to decide and wherever he went, he was going to be a great ride.

"I think his experience in his career really helped. Cause Of Causes finished second in a Kim Muir the year before he won this race. It's just a pleasure to be a part of this."

Lord Du Mesnil (11/2) lost nothing in defeat, going down by two and a quarter lengths after leading for most of this three-mile-six-furlong contest. Richard Hobson's consistent seven-year-old did not return to the winner's enclosure post-race, but his pilot Sam Waley-Cohen reported he was fine after his brave effort, saying: "He was a bit wobbly immediately after the race but he's fine now. The team here cooled him down quickly and he walked back in fine.

"He was brilliant, brave and full of courage. I just couldn't get him up that hill in front. He did nothing wrong, I thought we had it and then I spotted Jamie [Codd] coming. You would love to ride him in a National."

Lord Du Mesnil holds a Randox Health Grand National entry.

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