Golden moment for Smith
Golden Bay landed the feature Yorkshire Bank Mares’ Only Handicap Hurdle race at Cheltenham to give trainer Suzy Smith her first taste of success at Prestbury Park.
The 20-1 shot was ridden close to the pace by Daryl Jacob and was forced to fight hard after the final flight to hold off Jontys’lass by a head.
“This is our first winner here and although she’s only small, she’s quite tough,” Smith said.
“It’s very nice to get some black type next to her name and that is our biggest winner to date.
“We have got 19 horses at home at the moment but I am looking to get another yard just down the road which will increase us to 30.”
After yesterday’s hat-trick, trainer Paul Nicholls was again firing on all cylinders, scoring a double with Pirate Flagship and Taranis.
The former justified his short odds to land the Cotswold Life Gloucestershire Trainer’s Championship Novices’ Hurdle.
But punters taking the 2-5 about the seven-year-old will have been sweating on the turn for home as Amour Multiple was seemingly travelling better.
However, after the latter made a blunder at the last, jockey Ruby Walsh drove the eventual winner into the lead up the hill to score by four lengths.
“I don’t think he wants any further than this, he just stays the two miles very well. Ruby has already schooled him over fences and he is a brilliant jumper. He will make a very nice chaser,” said Nicholls.
The champion trainer-elect completed the brace in the following Messier-Dowty Landing Gear Novices’ Handicap Chase with Taranis.
The five-year-old jumped and travelled supremely well in the hands of Walsh and was still cantering turning for home.
Pushed out after the last, the 5-4 favourite beat Amicelli by an impressive eight lengths.
“He travelled well and jumped nicely,” said Nicholls.
“He had a breathing operation in January and it seems to have done the trick, that was a nice performance.”
The consistent Bleu Superbe returned to winning ways in the Nicholson Holman Cup Handicap Chase.
The Venetia Williams-trained 11-year-old disputed the lead early on and was always travelling well for Sam Thomas.
The 6-1 shot’s main challenger in the straight proved to be joint-favourite Escompteur, but he was unable to get past the winner who kept on in good style to win by one and a half lengths.
“He deserves this as he has been placed so many times in very competitive races,” said Williams.
“Earlier in his career he tended to either win or be pulled up but a wind operation seems to have got rid of the ’pulled ups’.
“It is so long since he has run a bad race and I’m absolutely delighted.”
Standin Obligation defied top weight of 11st 12lb to land the Renault Masters Handicap Hurdle.
The Martin Pipe-trained seven-year-old was held up last by Timmy Murphy in the early stages of the three-mile contest but was on the heels of the leaders as they turned for home.
He just had to be pushed out after the last to quicken away from Rimsky to score by a decisive seven lengths.
“He has done very well with all that weight,” said Pipe of the 14-1 winner.
“He has jumped and travelled well and will go novice chasing next season.
“This is my last runner at Cheltenham this season and I’m delighted that I have finished with a winner.”
Knife Edge (14-1) stayed out the three-and-a-quarter-mile trip in grand style to land the Coolus Air Conditioning Hunters’ Chase.
Jonjo O’Neill’s 11-year-old travelled well for Alan Berry but looked booked for second when Joe Blake cruised into the straight.
However, he did not find as much as expected and it was Knife Edge who powered into the lead after the final fence to beat Yeoman Sailor by seven lengths.
Classic Fiddle gave trainer Nicky Henderson yet another bumper winner in the Renault Traffic Mares’ Only National Hunt Flat Race.
The 4-1 shot, who is now unbeaten in two starts, travelled very strongly in the hands of Mick Fitzgerald and quickened away in the straight to beat Strawberry by nine lengths.
“There’s a lot of her mother in her (Fiddling The Facts) and she is still only a baby,” said Henderson.
“We’ll put her away now and go novice hurdling with her next term.”
