Nictory Vote books Cheltenham with Taunton success
Nictory Vote booked his ticket to the Cheltenham Festival with a comfortable success at Taunton - the second leg of a double on the card for Paul Nicholls and Ruby Walsh.
The 9-4 chance travelled powerfully throughout the two-mile-one-furlong contest and had most of his rivals hard at work on the turn for home.
Hot favourite Ronaldo Des Mottes, a winner at Sandown last Friday, emerged as Nictory Vote's main challenger in the straight.
But Walsh kept his mount up to his work to score by three and three-quarter lengths.
Part-owner Jim Lewis said: "I think Paul has in mind the Fred Winter so we will go there.
"I just hope the handicapper is nice and kind to us.
"I own this horse in the same partnership that own Breedsbreeze. They are a couple of lads from South Africa and unfortunately they aren't here, but they'll be well pleased."
Nicholls and Walsh had earlier combined with Super Formen, who was driven out to land the Enter Racecard Competition Beginners' Chase.
The 8-15 market leader was sent straight to the head of affairs by Walsh and, despite jumping markedly left for much of the contest, he had a length and a half in hand at the line from William Bonney.
Marsh Court sprung a 25-1 shock in the South-West Racing Club Handicap Chase.
Jamie Snowden's mare was sent off the rank outsider in the four-runner field but stayed on strongly in the hands of Timmy Murphy to belie her odds and secure a six-length success.
Snowden said: "She's a very temperamental mare and requires plenty of TLC, if anything.
"She won a nice novice hurdle at Fontwell but we popped her over a fence at home and she had springs in her feet."
