Williamson blows hot

Yorkshire Gale signalled a turnaround in the recent fortunes of Josh Gifford with a victory at Cheltenham yesterday that may lead to a crack at the King George VI Chase.

The track specialist clinched the C F Roberts Handicap Chase for the third year running yesterday with a convincing, 24-length defeat of Stormtracker.

In the last fortnight, Gifford has sent out just three winners from 24 runners, while stable jockey Philip Hide is none for 23 during a period when their team is often at its peak.

But the yard enjoyed its first win for a week when Yorkshire Gale, with regular rider Norman Williamson aboard on his first day back from suspension, romped away with the £10,000 first prize.

"That's such a relief because my horses have not been running that well. I took three to Huntingdon the other day and they all ran like hairy dogs," Gifford remarked.

"He could be hard to place but he is in the King George and if there are only two or three to beat there could be a nice bit of money to chase. I won't take him out yet."

Gifford is currently being outscored by Jim Old, who took his total for the season to 11, six of which have come in the last fortnight, with Dawn Leader.

Old saddles former Champion Hurdler Collier Bay for the first time this season today, but Dawn Leader, beaten favourite in the Festival Bumper, is rated among his best.

The six-year-old lived up to his billing by coming from way off the pace between the last two flights to land the Cheltenham Sponsorship Club Novices' Hurdle by four lengths.

Jockey Carl Llewellyn was sufficiently impressed to describe him as "one of the best horses I have ever sat on".

Old enthused: "He's a megastar. We tried to switch him off because we knew once Carl let out a reef he'd go `Whoosh'.

"He was never right all last year. We just about kept him together to win his first race but he fell apart after that. He was only starting to pick up the week before Cheltenham."

Bookmakers re-shuffled the Triumph Hurdle betting when Sound Appeal comfortably beat Real Estate and former big race favourite The French Furze in the Eagle Pest Control Novices' Hurdle.

The filly was cut by Coral to 16 to 1 (from 33 to 1) co-favourite for next year's juvenile hurdling title with Rainwatch, Khairabar and Vent D'Auot. The French Furze is 20 to 1 (from 12 to 1).

The Martin Pipe team experienced further disappointment when Doctoor was pulled up in the Chubb Fire Handicap Hurdle won by Tibetan.

But Gysart, under Tony McCoy, made amends when taking the Ian Williams Owners Gold Card Handicap Hurdle qualifier as Pipe saddled first, second and fourth.

Mentmore Towers had to be put down after breaking a shoulder in a heavy fall at the second last.