Ruby Flies Again with Hurricane

Hurricane Fly made a winning reappearance in the Dobbins & Madigans At Punchestown Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown after Go Native took a crashing fall at the final flight.

Paul Carberry brought Go Native to challenge long-time leader Hurricane Fly when Noel Meade's nine-year-old came down on his first run over hurdles for 978 days when looking dangerous.

That allowed the winner to come home in his own time and he was 12 lengths clear of the only other finisher, Captain Cee Bee.

It was a pleasing return for the 2011 Champion Hurdle hero and his sixth course and distance success.

Hurricane Fly was completing a hat-trick on the day for trainer Willie Mullins and jockey Ruby Walsh after their wins with Twinlight and Back in Focus earlier on the card.

Mullins said: "It looked like there was going to be no pace and we felt we would have to make it (the running).

"We weren't worried about the trip or ground. All we were really worried about was facing two rivals who were race fit.

"As he gets older he seems to settle better and hopefully he'll improve from that. He's certainly a different horse to last year. I was not happy with him last season.

"We'll look at Leopardstown at Christmas now and the plan will be that, the Irish Champion and Cheltenham as the races are well spread out. He'll be entered up in everything."

Hurricane Fly remained unchanged at 5-1 favourite with Sky Bet for the Champion Hurdle.

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Shooters Wood Winner for Walsh

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The Ruby Walsh-ridden Shooters Wood held off Wetak to land the paddypower.com Handicap Chase at Cheltenham.

Paul Nicholls' charge (7/1) travelled very well throughout the two mile contest and hit the front coming down the hill.

Although sternly challenged by Wetak (12/1) after the last, he was driven out by Walsh for a well-deserved victory.

Nicholls said: "We were delighted with our horse (Unioniste, third) in the first. He ran well behind two very good horses and this lad's run a blinder.

"Ruby said he probably should have won on him at Taunton the last day. It was the first time he'd sat on him and he said he should have saved a bit.

"Today I knew Ruby would ride him a bit differently and save a little bit for the hill and it was perfect."

Nicholls added: "I think left-handed tracks suit him better. "He looks an out-and-out two-miler and I'm not sure what we will do with him now."

Walsh said: "He's a good jumper and has loads of pace which is what you need in a two-mile horse."

The runner-up, ridden by Tom Scudamore and trained by French handler Francois Cottin, was the only one who could match strides with the winner before two out but just couldn't reel in his rival late on.

Third home was Fergal O'Brien's Silver Roque (6/1) who threatened to play a major part before the last fence but could find no more in the final furlong.

The well-fancied pair of Astracad and Kid Cassidy, sent off the 9/2 joint-favourites, both plugged on to finish fourth and fifth respectively.

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• Trainers, Colin Tizzard and Paul Nicholls brush shoulders in the Exeter meeting
• Racing legend Kauto Star retired
• Sizing Europe slams Clonmel rivals

Friday Hurricane at Punchestown

Friday's action at the Punchestown Festival goes action after the track passed a precautionary inspection.

Officials checked conditions at 0800 BST ahead of the fourth day of the Festival meeting and reported the course to be fit for racing.

The going remains heavy but the card will begin at 1655.

Hurricane Fly will be the star attraction in the Rabobank Champion Hurdle, one of three Grade One events on the card.

The 2011 Champion Hurdle hero at Cheltenham has lifted this prize at the county Kildare track in imperious fashion for the last two years.

Ruby Walsh's mount lost for the first time since November 2009 when only third to Rock On Ruby at Cheltenham.

"I'd be hoping for a lot more tomorrow than at Cheltenham," said Hurricane Fly's trainer Willie Mullins.

"He's been working well and seems in good form. Hopefully he can produce a good performance."

Mullins' stable will also unleash the committed grey Thousand Stars, who finished second in the race a year ago, and ran well to just lose out to Oscar Whisky in the Aintree Hurdle.

Zaidpour, who was eighth in the Champion Hurdle but had looked more his old self in minor races on testing ground earlier in the campaign, completes the trio.

Edward O'Grady's The Real Article appears the only possible threat to Mullins domination.

Barry Geraghty has the mount on The Real Article, who was placed to win a pair of Grade Two events at Tipperary and Down Royal in the early stages of the season proper.

Donald McCain's British raider Overturn was not declared for the race.

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Quevega Wins Ladbrokes

Willie Mullins' star mare Quevega landed the Ladbrokes.com World Series Hurdle at Punchestown for a third successive time on Thursday.

With her recent campaigns restricted to the David Nicholson Mares Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival and this contest; the eight year old was having just her sixth start in three years and she has won them all.

In extremely testing conditions Whatuthink and Berties Dream took them along, but Quevega and eventual runner-up Voler La Vedette were always going well in behind.

As Ruby Walsh made his move on Quevega rounding the home turn Andrew Lynch followed suit on Colm Murphy's mare, who was so brave in defeat behind Big Buck's at Cheltenham.

That phrase can be used again here, as she travelled well throughout the contest but had no answer to Quevega's class in the straight.

The winning distance was five-and-a-half lengths at the line and the daughter of the increasingly popular stallion Robin Des Champs has now won 10 of her 14 starts over obstacles.

Mullins said: "She's a good mare. Obviously Voler La Vedette was in some form and had great form coming into the race so I was quite worried, but she did the business.

"We keep it simple - one run every six months!

"We've taken her to Auteuil once or twice but I'm not sure, we'll see how she comes out of this but we'll stick to the same programme next year I would think."

Asked if he could be tempted to clash with Big Buck's, Mullins said: "I'll take on Big Buck's at Cheltenham if they can get him entered in the mares' hurdle, is that good enough!

"The programme we follow works fantastic so I'm not looking for diversions.

"We follow a plan and it works well."

Reflecting on the victory, Mullins said: "She did what Ruby asked her and when push came to shove she still had plenty left in the tank.

"She pinged the last - not like here last year - and as we would never have minded taking on the best over two miles with her, we knew she wouldn't be found wanting for a change of gear.

"She won three on the Flat before she ever came to me. She's a real good mare and she showed that today.

"It was a fantastic performance and a great ride by Ruby too.

"She came in season last week but she came out of it quick enough."

Walsh said: "She was very good, we went a good gallop in testing ground but she settled well and jumped really well.

"Off the bend it looked the match that it was, but Voler La Vedette started to fold going to the last hurdle and my mare stayed better.

"I thought Andrew (Lynch) gave her a great ride at Cheltenham and never got into battle until as late as he possibly could, but Quevega's a great mare.

"Her programme suits me.

"Big Buck's is Big Buck's and I'd say the handicapper has it fairly sorted."

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Ruby Delivers Big Buck's Record

Big Buck's duly made history with a 17th consecutive victory over hurdles in the BGC Partners Liverpool Hurdle at Aintree.

In a race devalued by the exits of Poungach, Won In The Dark and Smad Place in the back straight, Paul Nicholls' charge was not extended to win the Grade One race for a fourth time.

Sent off a prohibitive 2/9 favourite, Big Buck's cantered round behind leaders Across The Bay and Poungach until the latter capsized, taking out Won In The Dark.

Smad Place then made a bad mistake and got rid of Robert Thornton four flights from the finish, leaving the door open for Big Buck's to surpass Sir Ken's previous record set in the 1950s.

Jumping to the front three out, Ruby Walsh eased the nine-year-old away from the three remaining in touch, and two more fluent jumps in the straight sealed victory by nine lengths, from a seemingly revitalised Crack Away Jack (33/1) with Across The Bay (50/1) keeping on for each-way supporters.

Flattered

"He seemed to be idling a little in front," said Andy Stewart, owner of Big Buck's. "Alan King's horse (Smad Place) was right behind us until unfortunately he came to grief. I was glad to see them all get up.

"We take every race as it comes and we are totally flattered by the reception he has been given by everyone here. He hasn't had an off-day since unseating in the Hennessy a few years ago.

"Undoubtedly (this win means the most), this is absolutely marvellous. Each win is very precious, but obviously to do 17 and go into the record books is very precious to us.

"It's been very flattering. People have been coming up for my autograph - he's more newsworthy than I am, but it's a privilege.

"Next year he'll go for the same programme and the Cleeve Hurdle as well."

Nicholls said: "It was straightforward today. He jumped and travelled and did everything right. We're happy with him.

"Now he's got older it pays to give him a race between the Long Walk and Cheltenham, so the Cleeve is ideal. We'll follow the same route."

Walsh added: "The easy part is riding him. He's an incredible horse. He's skated in today. It wasn't as competitive a race as Cheltenham.

"He's bolted in and the last couple of years he's been better here than at Cheltenham.

"We're lucky we've never got to the bottom of him. He's never been extended over hurdles. I would say there's more there."

O'Leary Runs Five at Irish National

Roi Du Mee heads a maximum field of 30 runners in the Ladbrokes Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse on Monday 

The Gordon Elliott-trained seven-year-old is one of five runners for Michael O'Leary's Gigginstown House Stud.

Ante-post favourite Four Commanders will be ridden by Davy Russell, with Magnanimity, Gift Of Dgab, and Start Me Up the other Gigginstown horses.

Tony McCoy will ride the Christy Roche-trained Groody Hill for JP McManus.

Osana, Catch Me, Aigle D'Or and Alfie Sherrin are the other McManus horses in the field.

Cross Appeal is a major contender for Noel Meade, while Ruby Walsh partners Allee Garde, one of four runners for Willie Mullins.

Ireland's champion trainer will also be represented by Shakervilz, Some Target and Raptor.

Nina Carberry won last year's race on Organisedconfusion , a horse trained by her uncle Arthur Moore.

She again rides a Moore-trained horse, Lastofttheleaders, in Monday's three-mile-five-furlong showpiece.

Last five Irish Grand National winners and riders

2011: Organisedconfusion - Nina Carberry

2010: Bluesea Cracker - Andrew McNamara

2009: Niche Market - Harry Skelton

2008: Hear the Echo - Paddy Flood

2007: Butler's Cabin - Tony McCoy

Buck's Fizz Again for Ruby

Big Buck's won his fourth Ladbrokes World Hurdle in great style at the Cheltenham Festival on Thursday after a battle with Voler La Vedette up the hill.

Ruby Walsh went to the front just before the home turn with Oscar Whisky, Thousand Stars and Voler La Vedette all seemingly cruising in his slipstream.

However, the first-two mentioned weakened quickly when push came to shove and it was left to the Colm Murphy-trained mare to give the champion a race.

And that she did, as Andrew Lynch was still motionless jumping the final obstacle, yet Big Buck's just kept on finding more as Walsh applied the pressure.

The four-time champion, winning his 16th race in succession, is one of the all-time greats of the sport and he was one-and-three-quarter lengths ahead at the line.

Smad Place ran on well for third and was a further seven lengths back from Voler La Vedette.

Cross Kennon and Five Dream, Big Buck's stablemate, made the running with Big Buck's unusually quite close up from early on.

Mourad forced the pace some way out with Big Buck's moving into second place and Oscar Whisky and Thousand Stars waiting in the wings.

Big Buck's had those under control but then Lynch played his cards late on the Colm Murphy-trained mare Voler La Vedette.

The two horses switched positions on the run to the final flight with Big Buck's moving out to the centre of the course and Voler La Vedette to the nearside rail.

There was still all to play for on the final slog up the punishing hill but Big Buck's had been there so many times before that he was not going to surrender his record, even against such a worthy opponent.

The win was as much a relief as joy for Nicholls, who had seen several of his horses run disappointingly since Rock On Ruby won the Champion Hurdle on Tuesday.

Walsh said: "He's an amazing horse. We went a good gallop and sprinted off the bend when he got to the running rail.

"The way Paul's horses had been running they were starting to doubt but boy this lad is good.

"I rode him much handier than last year - they were all speed horses, Thousand Stars, Oscar Whisky, So Young, but the only one that stayed was this lad.

"He's just a great horse and thank God I ride him."

No Hurricane for Mullins and Ruby

Willie Mullins remains at a loss to explain Hurricane Fly's disappointing performance when losing his crown in the Champion Hurdle on Tuesday.

The 10-time Grade One winner was considered one of the bankers of the meeting in the opening day feature, but was in trouble some way out under Ruby Walsh.

The eight-year-old deserves some credit for finishing third given he was clearly not at his best and Mullins is hoping the spark returns at the Punchestown Festival next month.

"He's fine this morning. He just didn't fire on the day for what ever reason and we just look forward to the next day with him now," said Mullins.

"He'll probably go to Punchestown."

There was some compensation for the Irish champion trainer as the incredible Quevega recorded her fourth successive victory in the OLBG Mares' Hurdle.

She too is likely to be Punchestown-bound.

"Quevega is a fantastic mare and was very good again yesterday. Hopefully we can keep her going for next year," Mullins added.

"She'll go to Punchestown and we'll do what we've done for the last few years and enter her in the two-mile race and the three-mile race. We'll see which way we go nearer the time."

No Hurricane for Walsh as Ruby Rocks

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Rock On Ruby ran out a most impressive winner of the Stan James Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham under Noel Fehily. 

With Overturn adopting his customary front-running tactics, Fehily sat closest to him on Paul Nicholls-trained 11-1 shot Rock On Ruby. 

The two opened up a gap on the rest of the field heading down the hill and all of a sudden, those in behind were struggling to bridge the gap. 

Last year's winner and hot favourite Hurricane Fly came out of the pack to try and challenge, but he was never getting there and Rock On Ruby stayed on best up the hill to beat Overturn by three and three-quarter lengths. Hurricane Fly was only third.

While odds-on favourite Hurricane Fly could be spotted travelling strongly under Ruby Walsh in the middle part of the race, the jockey had gone for his whip long before the turn for home. 

The first two dominated the race from start to finish and of the pair, it was Fehily who had most up his sleeve and in the end his mount was a decisive winner to give Nicholls his first Champion Hurdle victor. 

Binocular, winner of the race in 2010, tracked Hurricane Fly for most of the race having been held up at the back of the field. He, too, made late ground to finish fourth, but as with the majority of the field, it was all too late. 

Fehily said: 'I went down and schooled him earlier in the week and he felt amazing. 

'I was told not to worry about sending him on but I was worried going to the last as he was pulling up a little bit, but he picked up again afterwards. 

'The ground probably suited him a little bit today, he was very well on the day.'

Nicholls, who saddled four of the runners, said: 'It's just testament to the whole team. It's a really tremendous effort and everyone is going to be thrilled. 

'I didn't like the way Zarkandar looked in the paddock. He was a bit shelly and a bit light. 

'This horse is a seven-year-old, he's the right age, and it's brilliant. 'It was a great ride by Noel. He's a good man and has got a great winner. This is awesome.'

Assistant trainer Harry Fry, who effectively looks after the training of Rock On Ruby in Nicholls' satellite yard, said: 'I'm speechless. This is what you dream of. 

'It's great to be part of the team. With Richard (Barber) and Paul, you wouldn't ask for better. 

'They've given me the chance and the opportunity. 

'We wanted to win. We didn't come here to finish second best. We were here to win and he's come and done it. 

I didn't think he'd win that well. It's a brilliant day.'

Monday Decision for Kauto Star

Kauto Star has come through a racecourse gallop at Wincanton to suggest the two-time Gold Cup winner will be fit for Cheltenham next week.

It was feared the 12-year-old would miss the Gold Cup on 16 March after a fall but he has recovered rapidly.

Kauto Star was put through his paces for two miles by regular jockey Ruby Walsh and raced alongside Mon Parrain.

He will now go through a jumping session on Monday before trainer Paul Nicholls makes a final decision.

Before Friday's gallop, Nicholls had told BBC Radio 5 live: "There's huge improvement.

"This time last week I was resigned to the fact he wasn't going to run, but now it is good signs. We're going the right way very quickly. "

Last week Nicholls said Kauto Star was only "50-50" to compete in the race after falling at the stable yard.

Nicholls added: "I just said to Clifford [Baker, the stable's work rider], 'you told me last Wednesday it was 50-50 - how would you put it now?' and he told me, 'nearly 100%'.

"He did normal work today with Big Buck's [another horse from the Nicholls stable] with no ill effects, I'd be surprised if he doesn't work really well tomorrow.

"This sort of injury always goes quickly. It wasn't anything more serious than bruising and he's going the right way."

Kauto Star has become an iconic jump racing figure in a record-breaking career which included an unprecedented fifth King George VI Chase in six years at Kempton on Boxing Day.

The Gold Cup was expected to provide a much-anticipated showdown between the veteran and defending champion Long Run, who is five years his junior.

Since his fall when schooling over small obstacles on 26 February, Kauto Star has been having physiotherapy and an hour's exercise on a horse walker every day.

Nicholls said Kauto Star took "a pretty awful fall" when he broke the news six days after his tumble.

Ruby Relishing Cheltenham Book

Ruby Walsh is relishing his strong book of rides at the Cheltenham Festival headed by Hurricane Fly, Quevega, Big Buck's - and hopefully Kauto Star.

He has already amassed a total of 32 Festival winners, overhauling two years ago the record of 25 set by the late Pat Taaffe.

The latter is remembered for his association with three-times Gold Cup hero Arkle and Walsh has built up a similar relationship with Kauto Star.

They have already won two Betfred Gold Cups, but their prospects of going for a third depend on whether the Paul Nicholls-trained gelding recovers well enough from a schooling fall to take his chance.

"I hope Kauto Star gets there 100%, but whether he'll win or not he'll be a great ride," Walsh told Racing UK.

"Realistically, I think over that trip Long Run will be very hard to beat. It's not Cheltenham that suits Long Run, it's the trip."

He gets the leg up on Kauto Star's half-brother Kauto Stone in the sportingbet.com Queen Mother Champion Chase and is expecting a big run.

"I'll probably ride Kauto Stone in the Champion Chase and I think he'll finish second," he said.

Walsh, who has the pick of rides from the Nicholls team and Irish trainer Willie Mullins, took the Stan James Champion Hurdle on Hurricane Fly for the latter last year.

And the Mullins stable star is a hot favourite to repeat the trick on Tuesday week.

"He was a really good winner last year, but probably travelled a bit too keen for me on the day," Walsh said.

"Luckily enough, he was good enough to get away with it. He's been good ever since and fingers crossed he gets there in the same sort of form."

Walsh reports Quevega from the Mullins camp to be in fine shape as she tries to win the OLBG Mares' Hurdle for the fourth year running.

"She's in good nick. I schooled her last week and she jumped well. She's been working well," he said.

"She's a bit of a lady. Willie looks after her and she's in good old form at home. Obviously she (Unaccompanied) would be a danger if she runs. She beat Thousand Stars at Christmas and she'd be in there with a challenge."

The Nicholls-trained Big Buck's also seeks to land the Ladbrokes World Hurdle for a fourth time, with Walsh full of praise for the stayer who goes for his 16th win in a row.

"He's a very good horse. The more winning he has done, the easier he is to ride," he said.

"You definitely wouldn't get off him. He used to stop when he got to the front and he used to idle - he's not like that anymore. He's an unbelievable stayer."

Walsh is hopeful Nicholls' Al Ferof can give the exciting novice Sprinter Sacre a race in the Racing Post Arkle Trophy.

"He likes good ground, he schooled last week and he's in great form," Walsh added.

"It does hinge on Sprinter Sacre, who has looked breathtaking. If I can keep on his tail, there'll be nothing finishing faster than Al Ferof."

Ruby, John Smith and Seabass

Seabass is in line for a crack at the John Smith’s Grand National after stretching his unbeaten run to seven in the paddypower.com Chase at Naas. The four-and-a-half-mile spectacular at Aintree may be a totally different test to this Grade Two contest over two miles — but trainer Ted Walsh believes it is worth a try.

And Walsh knows what it takes, having tasted National glory in 2000 with Papillon, who had finished fourth in this race in his glory season. Seabass had to show battling qualities, as well as a touch of class, when rallying in determined fashion to collar Zaarito close home by a length.

Sent off the 5-4 favourite, Seabass cut out the running with Saludos but Zaarito looked like he had timed his run to perfection when going on between the last two fences. However, Ruby Walsh got a tremendous late effort out of the nine-year-old to get up in the dying strides, much to the delight of his syndicate of owners, who hail from Co Galway.

“Seabass got under the last but was gutsy. He was out of his comfort zone over two miles and was going faster than he wanted to go, but battled well,” said the trainer. “Maybe some of the other horses weren’t as good as they used to be, but he was won €120,00 since he won his point to point and that’s not bad!

“If he stays sound, we’ll go to Aintree for the Grand National. There’s no ideal type of horse for that race, you won’t know until you get there. Nobody knows if he’ll get the trip, he’s never been beyond three miles, but I imagine looking at him he is the right type.

“However, the biggest problem is keeping him sound — he has been on the ‘scrap heap’ three times already.”

Walsh acknowledged that his son might be committed to a horse at Aintree trained either by Willie Mullins or Paul Nicholls, and he rode Prince De Beauchene to National favouritism at Fairyhouse on Saturday.

Should that be the case, Walsh senior would hand the ride to his daughter, Katie. He added: “The choice will be be Ruby‘s and he rides for Willie (Mullins) or Paul (Nicholls) but if for some reason they went by the wayside he might decide to ride this fellow. If he doesn’t, I have a very able substitute in Katie.”

Bittar Wants BHA Whip Rule Ended

Paul Bittar, the recently installed chief executive of the British Horseracing Authority, wants the controversy over the new whip rules ended before the Cheltenham Festival.

Champion jockey Tony McCoy became the latest high-profile rider to fall foul of the new regulations on Thursday, being handed a four-day ban after dead-heating for first place at Leicester.

A further whip suspension could see him miss the big meeting at Prestbury Park next month.

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra, Bittar said: “I’m hopeful of a sensible resolution to the whip issue pre-Cheltenham.

“I have no interest in one of our rules being the public focus of the sport during a great festival like Cheltenham or Aintree, so we’re hoping to have that resolved and get a sensible outcome on that.

“It will mean we probably have a short bedding-in period pre-Cheltenham, but, to be honest, I think the risks associated with going into Cheltenham not having made change outweigh the risks of perhaps having a short bedding-in period.

“The key issues for us are those ones that have been raised a couple of times before, the main one being the proportionality of the penalties as they relate to the breaches.

“I think, in general, the riders have made a huge effort to fall into line with the new rules, but I think that it’s unarguable that the penalty structure doesn’t quite fit the crime.

“The other aspect is just getting probably some more common-sense outcomes and better use of discretion on raceday from stewards.

“I think if we can resolve those two issues, which are two main issues for riders, the other aspects are kind of incidental, so they are the main issues of focus.”

Mourad Too Strong at Navan

Mourad proved far too strong for stablemate Mikael D'Haguenet in the Ladbrokes Boyne Hurdle at Navan on Sunday.

Ruby Walsh opted to ride the 4-11 favourite but the eight-year-old didn't hurdle fluently and he was in trouble as he tried to close down the all-the-way winner between the last two.

He never threatened to land a blow as Mourad, sent off at 3-1, powered home under Paul Townend to score by six lengths.

Mullins, winning his first Boyne Hurdle, said: "Mourad had been disappointing this year and I didn't think he was back to his form so we said we'd change tactics today and decided to make a lot more use of him.

"He seemed to enjoy it a lot better and it didn't do his travelling plans any harm (for the World Hurdle at Cheltenham).

"I'm disappointed with Mikael D'Haguenet. I'll have to think of plans now for him. On ratings there wasn't much between the two of them but the other fellow just found his form this year for the first time."

Paddy Power make Mourad a 14-1 chance for the World Hurdle at Cheltenham, while Stan James go 16-1 from 33-1.

Stan James' spokesman Joseph Burke said: "Willie Mullins now trains a quite amazing six of the first 10 in the betting for the World Hurdle and whilst Big Buck's remains the 1-2 favourite, Mourad was only four and a half lengths behind him last year so he must have an each-way again."

Sky Bet and Paddy Power were impressed by the performance and cut the winner to 14-1 from 33s for the Ladbrokes World Hurdle, while Stan James go 16s from 33s.

Long Run Shows Form at Newbury

Long Run prepared for his defence of the Cheltenham Gold Cup next month with victory in the Denman Chase at Newbury.

Trainer Nicky Henderson's seven-year-old, ridden by Sam Waley-Cohen, was pushed to the finish by Burton Port, with What a Friend coming home third.

"He jumped really well," said winning jockey Waley-Cohen.

"He felt like different horse. He was more up for it. We learned how to set him up for a fence when you get him going quicker."

“That is exactly the confidence boost you want to go to the Gold Cup with”Jockey Sam Waley-Cohen

Long Run started as the 4-7 favourite and played a patient game as The Giant Bolster led the running for much of the race.

Henderson's top chaser then hit the front and seemed set to pull away after jumping the final fence, but stablemate Burton Port's late surge meant the Gold Cup favourite's margin of victory was only half a length.

Waley-Cohen added: "I was really pleased with his jumping. He was a little careless with the water [jump], but apart from that he's jumped really well. You couldn't ask for more from a seasoned chaser.

"That is exactly the confidence boost you want to go to the Gold Cup with."

The Cheltenham Festival runs from 13-16 March with the big race run on the final day.

Meanwhile, Ruby Walsh rode the 7-4 favourite Zarkandar to a thrilling win in the Betfair Hurdle , which like the Denman Chase was rescheduled after last Saturday's meeting was abandoned because of snow.

The 20-strong field were bunched together until the final few fences, before the pace increased with two to go.

Zarkandar, trained by Paul Nicholls, did not make his move until the final few strides when he found a small gap before claiming victory by a length and a quarter from Get Me Out Of Here and Raya Star.

Champion jockey Tony McCoy took a heavy fall at the second-last fence while well placed with Darlan, but walked away after receiving treatment on the course.