Soldier Reeves strikes, with Ambiente Friendly fourth on hurdling debut

Soldier Reeves sparkled in the mallardjewellers.com Maiden Hurdle, as last year’s Derby runner-up Ambiente Friendly had to settle for fourth on his hurdling bow at Cheltenham.

Dan and Harry Skelton’s superb run of form was continuing with the 14-1 winner, who prevailed by a half a length on what was his own hurdling debut, with Gaelic Pride in second and Bespoke Tailor the third horse home.

The James Owen-trained Ambiente Friendly, meanwhile, an 11-2 chance under Sam Twiston-Davies, was faced with a very different contest to his 2024 effort behind the much-vaunted City Of Troy at Epsom. He led with a healthy advantage for a long way before tiring, although to his credit he did not drop away and kept trying.

Of Soldier Reeves, Dan Skelton said: “He was way too keen in bumpers and if he ran in bumpers for much longer he was going to learn to over-race. Even the at the last there, he over-jumped. He’s got a lot to learn, but he’s got a big engine. I thought he could win, I didn’t necessarily think we would, but I thought he could.

“I think we’ll stick at two miles for as long as we dare, really. I want to teach him to race properly.”

Anthony Honeyball’s Kdeux Saint Fray showed his ability over fences in the Bottlegreen Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase.

A faller on debut over the larger obstacles, he put up a true showing of his potential when striking at 13-2 under Jonathan Burke, with his stablemate Jordans Cross this time the faller when the 11-4 favourite.

Honeyball said: “He jumped like we thought he could today, he handled the ground and is just a nice horse going forward. I thought it was a tough race, top-weight and a five-year-old and I was wondering if I’d done the right thing, but he came through it and toughed it out well.

“We’ll go for the John Francome at Newbury now.”

He added of Jordans Cross: “He seems fine, I think he’ll be fine, but I’ll see what they say whether he’s got a few nicks. I think he’d have been bang there with the winner.”

The Hine Solicitors Talking Sense Handicap Chase proved one for the Joe Tizzard team, with Brendan Powell steering Triple Trade (7-1) to a neck victory over Torneo.

Marble Sands then relished a step up in the trip to take the Oddschecker Handicap Chase for David Killahena and Graeme McPherson, a four-length victory at 7-1 under Kielan Woods.

The concluding Three Counties Christmas Open National Hunt Flat Race was taken by Tom Cooper’s Saint Clovis, a 12-1 shot who was ridden by Harry Cobden to win by four and three quarter lengths.