L’Homme Presse narrowly denied the gallant Stage Star in a thrilling climax to the Betfair Cotswold Chase at Cheltenham.
Having finished fourth in the Gold Cup last March, and emerged best of the home team when third on his reappearance in the King George VI Chase on Boxing Day, the Venetia Williams-trained L’Homme Presse was sent off at 4/5 to cement his status as Britain’s leading hope for this year’s blue riband.
But in Stage Star, who has largely struggled since winning the 2023 Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham for Paul Nicholls, he came up against a worthy adversary.
Stepped up to beyond three miles for the first time, Stage Star was clearly enjoying himself out in front from an early stage under Harry Cobden, with L’Homme Presse and Irish raider Gentlemansgame the only two able to go with him.
L’Homme Presse was upsides Stage Star from the home turn, but the latter refused to bend in front and it was only in the dying strides the market leader managed to get on top in the hands of Charlie Deutsch, with three-quarters of a length the winning margin.
Most firms cut L’Homme Presse’s Cheltenham Gold Cup odds to 16/1 from 25/1 while some also trimmed his Ryanair Chase odds to 16/1 from 40/1.
East India Dock delivers again in Triumph Trial at Cheltenham
East India Dock produced a dominant front-running display to maintain his unbeaten record over obstacles in the JCB Triumph Trial Juvenile Hurdle at Cheltenham.
The high-class Flat performer made a fine start to his jumping career at Wincanton in October and, having followed up at Cheltenham in November, he returned to the Cotswolds as the 1/2 favourite to complete his hat-trick in the hands of Sam Twiston-Davies.
Sent straight to the lead, James Owen’s charge jumped nimbly throughout and only French raider Stencil was able to go with him from the home turn.
East India Dock on his way to victory
But East India Dock soon stamped his authority on the contest on the run to the final flight and flicked through it to put the seal on comprehensive 10-length victory in the colours of the Gredley family.
Bookmakers were suitably impressed, with firms trimming the winner’s odds for the Triumph Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival to 3/1 from 6/1. Nicky Henderson’s Ascot scorer Lulamba remains a 6/4 favourite for the main event in March.
Owen said: “He’s a lovely horse with a big future and he’s got to have put his foot back in the door for March now.
“From a horse coming off the Flat he is just so economical, he’s not keen, he settles and he’s handled that New Course just as well as he did the Old [Course, in November].
“I wouldn’t be swapping him for anything and he’s a lovely horse. What a privileged position we’re in and Sam has gone out there and given him a good positive ride, he wanted to go out and make the running and he knows what he’s doing.
“He’s probably been more economical there than he was the last day when he was a bit flashy, but that is probably down to Sam holding on to him and the ground. He loves to jump and comes alive at a hurdle.”
East India Dock’s half-brother Burdett Road was a high-class juvenile for Owen and the Gredleys last season, winning at Cheltenham in the November before finding Sir Gino too strong in this race 12 months ago. He subsequently missed the Triumph Hurdle itself after suffering a setback.
“They are so hard to compare and over hurdles Burdett Road has only been beaten by Constitution Hill, Lossiemouth and Sir Gino and they are three of the best. Burdett is just a very good horse,” Owen continued.
“This fella has a long way to go to reach those heights, but fingers crossed we can bring him back in March and have a good go.
“East India Dock will be quite lazy at home and will only just beat the horse he works with. He occasionally works with Burdett Road and can’t beat him, but he does the others and he’s just got such a good attitude.
“He had a busy campaign on the Flat and I learned plenty from Burdett Road last year. We gave this horse a break and obviously I was going to go to the Finale (at Chepstow) with Burdett and maybe he should have had a gallop that day rather than preparing him to run and then I was too easy on him coming here [for this race last year].
“He wouldn’t have beaten Sir Gino on form, but this is a nice horse who has had a nice break and there is a good bit of improvement to come fitness-wise. This was a stepping stone for the Triumph and he’s simply a very good horse.
“This horse’s form is solid and I wouldn’t swap him for anything. We’ll find out in March where we fit in with Lulamba, but there will be others to beat as well.”
Twiston-Davies added: “Hopefully he’s got a lot of the right attributes to mean he’ll go close on the Friday at Cheltenham.
“He’s a pleasure to ride and has the right way of doing things for jumping, and that makes him very good.”
Joint-trainer Noel George was delighted with the performance of the runner-up Stencil, who could also be Cheltenham Festival-bound.
He said: “I thought turning in he was going to run a massive race and James (Reveley) thought he was going well, but then the winner has just sprinted again and I would say he is very good.
“I was delighted with our lad – he’s a big horse and he takes plenty of work and racing. He’s probably going to improve a bit for that, but whether we’ll reach the winner’s standard it is tough to say.
“Being a big horse we might have to consider carrying a big weight in the Boodles (Juvenile Handicap Hurdle), but he’s going to be a lovely chaser next year. I’m delighted to have a first run like that in England with him and he will have an exciting future.”
