7-2 Village Vic lands second Cheltenham prize in three weeks

Village Vic secured his second lucrative prize at Cheltenham in the space of three weeks with an impressive victory in the BetBright Best For Festival Betting Handicap Chase.

After wins in lesser company at Wetherby and Musselburgh, the Philip Hobbs-trained nine-year-old stepped up in class for last month’s Caspian Caviar Gold Cup and produced a superb display from the front to run out a comprehensive winner.

Racing off an 8lb higher mark for his return to Prestbury Park, Village Vic was the 7-2 favourite under Richard Johnson and again produced a scintillating round of jumping.

Top Gamble tracked the leader into the straight, with Tenor Nivernais coming from further back to mount a challenge, but another spring-heeled leap at the last all but sealed victory for Village Vic and he came home with three lengths in hand.

Tenor Nivernais edged out Top Gamble for second.

Johnson said: “He jumped well, apart from the second, but the ground is very testing. Even for horses that handle soft ground it’s hard work.

“Because he’s quite free-going, when it’s heavy you’re always worried you’re doing a bit too much, but he’s so enthusiastic and jumps so well. He enjoys it so we try to let him get on with it.

“He was a lovely horse as a youngster and had his problems after his novice hurdle days. It’s just taken a while to get him back, but the owner has been very patient and the yard has done very well to get him back in very good form.

“I think one of the handicaps (at the Festival) will be what he’ll be aimed at. Two-and-a-half (miles) looks the ideal trip for him.”

The trainer’s wife, Sarah Hobbs, said: “They both (horse and jockey) had so much confidence. When he (Johnson) asked for very long ones, he got them.

“It will take him a little bit longer for him to get over it this time and he’s finished quite tired, but he’s jumped beautifully.

“He’s a fabulous horse.”

Seeyouatmidnight produced a brilliant front-running display to claim top honours in the BetBright #realfansonly Novices' Chase at Cheltenham.

Sandy Thomson’s northern raider was a beaten favourite on his chasing debut at Carlisle in November, but put that right at Kelso a month a later to earn himself a step up to Grade Two level in a race better known as the ‘Dipper’.

Brian Hughes sent the 7-2 winner straight to the lead from the outset and some prodigious leaps kept up the momentum.

While his rivals one by one started to come under pressure and fell away, Seeyouatmidnight was still trapping along running down the hill, with only Blaklion able to go with him rounding the home turn.

For a moment Blaklion looked like making a real race of it, but a quick jump at the final fence kept Thomson’s charge in command and he galloped all the way to the line to score by three and a quarter lengths.

Hughes said: “It was a bold shout by Sandy coming here, but he loves that ground.

“He does go on better ground — he ran a good race in the World Hurdle here. He’s a fair horse.

“He does it that hard way. I thought I went a good, even gallop, but he picked up when we turned in.

“He was probably getting a bit lonely in front, but it’s a fair performance on his third run over fences.

“He’s an out-and-out three-miler.”

Camping Ground streaked clear of his rivals for a brilliant victory in the Dornan Engineering Relkeel Hurdle at Cheltenham.

A multiple winner in France before being snapped up by Robert Walford a year ago, two of the six-year-old’s three previous starts in Britain had been over fences.

But having unseated his rider on his seasonal reappearance in Huntingdon’s Peterborough Chase last month, Walford decided to switch his charge back to the smaller obstacles for this Grade Two contest and the plan came off in spectacular fashion.

The 10-1 shot travelled beautifully throughout in hands of dual Grand National-winning jockey Leighton Aspell and took over the lead from last season’s World Hurdle hero Cole Harden heading down the back straight.

It was clear running down the hill Camping Ground was still full of running and he rounded the turn for home in total command.

Aspell kept his mount up to his work after skipping over the final flight and he pulled further clear, passing the post 11 lengths clear of Lil Rockerfeller in second.

Cole Harden was nine lengths further back in third, just ahead of heavily-backed favourite Top Notch and long-absent mare Aurore D’Estruval.

“This is the first time I’ve sat on him. He had to step up on what he’d shown, but he relished conditions,” said Aspell.

“In the ground, and over this trip, it’s the first time he’s had the opportunity to show his true ability in this country.

“Robert was very positive and certainly confident he would run a big race, but you’re dipping your toes in deeper water.

“Robert is a very good trainer and knows what he has on his hands.”