L’Homme Presse narrowly denied the gallant Stage Star in an exhilarating climax to the Betfair Cotswold Chase at Cheltenham.
Having completed fourth within the Gold Cup final March, and emerged better of the house workforce when third on his reappearance within the King George VI Chase on Boxing Day, the Venetia Williams-trained L’Homme Presse was despatched off at 4/5 to cement his standing as Britain’s main hope for this yr’s blue riband.
However in Stage Star, who has largely struggled since profitable the 2023 Paddy Energy Gold Cup at Cheltenham for Paul Nicholls, he got here up towards a worthy adversary.
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Stepped as much as past three miles for the primary time, Stage Star was clearly having fun with himself out in entrance from an early stage below Harry Cobden, with L’Homme Presse and Irish raider Gentlemansgame the one two in a position to go together with him.
L’Homme Presse was upsides Stage Star from the house flip, however the latter refused to bend in entrance and it was solely within the dying strides the market chief managed to get on prime within the arms of Charlie Deutsch, with three-quarters of a size the profitable margin.
Most companies minimize L’Homme Presse’s Cheltenham Gold Cup odds to 16/1 from 25/1 whereas some additionally trimmed his Ryanair Chase odds to 16/1 from 40/1.
Williams stated: “He retains us on the sting of our seats, would not he? Charlie stated he was so laid-back the entire method spherical within the race and turning for residence stated ‘come on now, we have got a race to win’.
“I at all times thought we might have Stage Star lined, however credit score to Stage Star he is an awesome horse and made him pull all of it out.
“He is trotted again to the winner’s enclosure right here and what number of horses do you see run three miles at Cheltenham then trot again. It is all been comparatively easy this yr and he got here again from Kempton in nice kind so we have simply been in a position to make an ordinary development to right here.
“I am happy to get this race within the bag. We’ll see about March and it is one step at a time, however I am happy with that. I feel the bottom may show fairly related in March as a result of he wasn’t getting drained final yr and the others solely acquired on prime on the best way to the road, I do not assume staying the journey shall be an issue for him.
“Everybody has constructed up the Irish as unbeatable after which the entry got here from Britain and it was depleted. I feel a whole lot of that’s as a result of folks get frightened, however on the finish of the day it is who wins the race on the day and you do not even know if all the primary protagonists will get there in a single piece. I am fairly shocked we’re one of many main British contenders, however we’ll see in March.
“He means the world, past that I can not say any extra. Charlie says it is like entering into his favorite automobile, however once I get in my favorite automobile I get a rushing ticket. Let’s be very grateful for what we have seen at present.”
Of Stage Star, Nicholls stated: “The step up in journey suited him as he was in a position to journey.
“In these handicaps, if you’re carrying 12st and have everybody behind you, you are out of your consolation zone, in order that was sensible to try this at present and he is acquired each little bit of the journey – he galloped all the best way to the road. It is a disgrace it wasn’t degree weights.
“I did not put him within the Gold Cup. Whereas he may run a pleasant race within the Gold Cup, he is not going to win a Gold Cup so we’ll preserve him contemporary I suppose for the (Aintree) Bowl.
“There’s nothing else for him actually as he has to go left-handed, a whole lot of horses could have onerous races at Cheltenham and there is 19 days between the 2.
“That was a very good run at present and we’re thrilled.”
East India Dock delivers once more in Triumph Trial at Cheltenham
East India Dock produced a dominant front-running show to take care of his unbeaten document over obstacles within the JCB Triumph Trial Juvenile Hurdle at Cheltenham.
The high-class Flat performer made a superb begin to his leaping profession at Wincanton in October and, having adopted up at Cheltenham in November, he returned to the Cotswolds because the 1/2 favorite to finish his hat-trick within the arms of Sam Twiston-Davies.
Despatched straight to the lead, James Owen’s cost jumped nimbly all through and solely French raider Stencil was in a position to go together with him from the house flip.
East India Dock on his method to victory
However East India Dock quickly stamped his authority on the competition on the run to the ultimate flight and flicked by way of it to place the seal on complete 10-length victory within the colors of the Gredley household.
Bookmakers have been suitably impressed, with companies trimming the winner’s odds for the Triumph Hurdle on the Cheltenham Pageant to three/1 from 6/1. Nicky Henderson’s Ascot scorer Lulamba stays a 6/4 favorite for the primary occasion in March.
Owen stated: “He is a beautiful horse with a giant future and he is acquired to have put his foot again within the door for March now.
“From a horse coming off the Flat he’s simply so economical, he isn’t eager, he settles and he is dealt with that New Course simply in addition to he did the Outdated [Course, in November].
“I would not be swapping him for something and he is a beautiful horse. What a privileged place we’re in and Sam has gone on the market and given him a very good constructive experience, he needed to exit and make the working and he is aware of what he is doing.
“He is most likely been extra economical there than he was the final day when he was a bit flashy, however that’s most likely right down to Sam holding on to him and the bottom. He loves to leap and comes alive at a hurdle.”
East India Dock’s half-brother Burdett Highway was a high-class juvenile for Owen and the Gredleys final season, profitable at Cheltenham within the November earlier than discovering Sir Gino too robust on this race 12 months in the past. He subsequently missed the Triumph Hurdle itself after struggling a setback.
“They’re so onerous to match and over hurdles Burdett Highway has solely been crushed by Structure Hill, Lossiemouth and Sir Gino and they’re three of the very best. Burdett is simply an excellent horse,” Owen continued.
“This fella has an extended method to go to achieve these heights, however fingers crossed we will carry him again in March and have a very good go.
“East India Dock shall be fairly lazy at residence and can solely simply beat the horse he works with. He often works with Burdett Highway and may’t beat him, however he does the others and he is simply acquired such a very good perspective.
“He had a busy marketing campaign on the Flat and I realized a lot from Burdett Highway final yr. We gave this horse a break and clearly I used to be going to go to the Finale (at Chepstow) with Burdett and possibly he ought to have had a gallop that day fairly than making ready him to run after which I used to be too simple on him coming right here [for this race last year].
“He would not have crushed Sir Gino on kind, however it is a good horse who has had a pleasant break and there’s a good little bit of enchancment to return fitness-wise. This was a stepping stone for the Triumph and he is merely an excellent horse.
“This horse’s kind is stable and I would not swap him for something. We’ll discover out in March the place we slot in with Lulamba, however there shall be others to beat as properly.”
Twiston-Davies added: “Hopefully he is acquired a whole lot of the appropriate attributes to imply he’ll go shut on the Friday at Cheltenham.
“He is a pleasure to experience and has the appropriate method of doing issues for leaping, and that makes him excellent.”
Joint-trainer Noel George was delighted with the efficiency of the runner-up Stencil, who is also Cheltenham Pageant-bound.
He stated: “I believed handing over he was going to run an enormous race and James (Reveley) thought he was going properly, however then the winner has simply sprinted once more and I might say he is excellent.
“I used to be delighted with our lad – he is a giant horse and he takes loads of work and racing. He is most likely going to enhance a bit for that, however whether or not we’ll attain the winner’s customary it’s powerful to say.
“Being a giant horse we would have to think about carrying a giant weight within the Boodles (Juvenile Handicap Hurdle), however he will be a beautiful chaser subsequent yr. I am delighted to have a primary run like that in England with him and he could have an thrilling future.”
