Racing: Mon Mome repelled the challenge of Star De Mohaison in a thrilling finish to the Boylepoker.com Chase in the hands of Aidan Coleman at Cheltenham this afternoon.
The 11-2 chance was never too far off the pace in the Listed contest but looked a sitting duck as top-weight and former Royal & SunAlliance Chase hero Star De Mohaison loomed up jumping the second last.
However, the Venetia Williams inmate answered his rider's call in the straight and after a battle up the hill, came out on top by half a length.
There was a predictable outcome to the Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Chase as the true master of the discipline, Enda Bolger, claimed first, second and fourth.
All three carried the colours of JP McManus but L'Ami and Garde Champetre were clear coming down to the last, with respective jockeys JT McNamara and Nina Carberry eyeballing each other.
Carberry got the best tune out of Garde Champetre, winner of the event at the Festival, to justify 7-4 favouritism by a length and a quarter. Drombeag took fourth spot.
"That was great, all I have to do is mind him for the Festival," said Bolger. "I was pleased with L'Ami too, but he just doesn't have the finishing speed of the other one."
Paul Nicholls could hardly have spoken of What A Friend in more glowing terms after the gelding took the Cheltenham Business Club Novices' Chase.
The five-year-old is owned in part by Alex Ferguson and made it two from two over fences thanks to a waiting ride from Sam Thomas.
Hot favourite Ballyfitz made the pace, but What A Friend picked him up at the last and sprinted seven lengths clear on the run-in.
Rhys Flint and Fair Along are proving a match made in heaven as they easily won the Pertemps Handicap Hurdle (Qualifier) despite carrying top weight.
Philip Hobbs' popular performer, an 8-1 shot, has found his feet again back over the smaller obstacles and will be aimed for the Ladbrokes World Hurdle after this six-length defeat of Don't Push It.
The sponsors go only 12-1 for a return to Cheltenham this March and he did it this time without having to make all the running in his customary style.
Williams added: "He so deserves to win a big race with all those placings behind him and all being well, the Welsh National will be his next race."
Star De Mohaison's trainer Paul Nicholls said: "That was his first real race for two years so we are very happy.
"The Welsh National will probably come too quickly so we would look at one of the (Gold Cup) trials in the Letheby And Christopher Chase or the Aon."
Results
12.10pm Cheltenham Business Club Novices' Chase
1 What A Friend (S Thomas) 15-8
2 Ballyfitz (P J Brennan) 5-6 Fav
3 Tot O'Whiskey (D C Costello) 7-1
12.45pm Pertemps Handicap Hurdle (Qualifier)
1 Fair Along (R P Flint) 8-1
2 Don't Push It (A P McCoy) 12-1
3 Maucaillou (A P Cawley) 11-1
4 Cullahill (D Jacob) 16-1
1.20pm Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Chase
1 Garde Champetre (Miss N Carberry) 7-4 Fav
2 L'Ami (Mr J T McNamara) 8-1
3 Nadover (N Fehily) 20-1
4 Drombeag (R M Power) 7-1
1.55pm Boylepoker.com Handicap Chase (Listed)
1 Mon Mome (A Coleman) 11-2
2 Star De Mohaison (B J Geraghty) 11-1
3 Possol (M Bradburne) 8-1
2.30pm Cfr Group Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Chase
1 Saunders Road (R P Flint) 9-1
2 Junctiontwentyfour (K Burke) 33-1
3 Double Dizzy (Nick Scholfield) 16-1
4 Alexanderthegreat (A Coleman) 15-2
3.05pm Boylesports Fon-a-bet 0800 44 00 00 Handicap Hurdle
1 Culcabock (C I Gillies) 20-1
2 I Have Dreamed (J E Moore) 14-1
3 Moon Star (Michael Murphy) 40-1
4 Stradbrook (A P McCoy) 9-2
3.40pm E.b.f./boylesports.com 'Nh' Novices' Hurdle (Qualifier)
1 Karabak (R Thornton) 11-4
2 Mahonia (R Walsh) 8-11 Fav
3 You're The Top (B J Geraghty) 8-1