Sixmilebridge continues to progress with Cheltenham triumph

Sixmilebridge remained unbeaten over fences with a decisive display in the Santa – “The Visit” “Chasing Excellence” Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham.

A useful novice hurdler last term, Fergal O’Brien’s six-year-old took time to warm to his task on his chasing bow at Ayr but was much more assured this time around.

A 2-1 chance having to concede weight to his two rivals, it took until the home straight to shake off Nicky Henderson’s 5-4 favourite Califet En Vol, but the winner’s sure-footed jumping was enough to seal the deal in what ended up an emphatic 13-length success for the mount of Kielan Woods.

Winning owner Andrew Megson said: “We’re delighted, he massively came on from Ayr. It was run at a proper pace today, he jumped so much better than last time. Kielan was delighted with him and we think there will be loads more to come.

“Fergal has said the next target will be the (Grade One) Scilly Isles (at Sandown) and we think his jumping will just keep getting better and better.

“We’re really pleased and we couldn’t be happier, he’s a proper horse, he’s probably the best we have this season.”

He went on: “He was giving weight all round and when you are coming up against horses of that quality you have to be happy. We’re thrilled, he travelled well, jumped well and it was fantastic.”

Harry Skelton delivered Fortune De Mer (16-5) to perfection to notch a second Cheltenham success of the season in the Catesby Estates Handicap Hurdle.

A Grade Two winner at Prestbury Park in October, Dan Skelton’s five-year-old had to settle for second at Ascot last time but got back to winning ways in brilliant fashion, ridden ice cool and emerging on the scene late in the day before pouncing for a cosy half-length success.

Skelton told ITV Racing: “He’s doing well with his racing this horse and we need to get five runs into him for the County Hurdle.

“I told everyone at the start of the year that was what we would do and we’re just trying to do it. We’ll feel a lot of satisfaction if it comes off, but we won’t be disappointed if it doesn’t as it’s a hard thing to do and we’re getting a lot of pleasure running him. Looking at the smile on Harry’s face, he loves riding him.

“He wouldn’t be good enough to win a Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, but he would travel into it and his time wouldn’t be as good as Old Park Star’s today (winner of the first race), but he’s a very good novice and he wouldn’t be out of place in those races.”

Elsewhere on the card Evan Williams’ Can You Call (7-2) rolled back the years to reverse form with last month’s track conqueror Eldorado Allen in the Unibet Middle Distance Veterans’ Chase Series Handicap Chase.

The Ben Jones-ridden 10-year-old was held in third here last time, but this time proved much the best for a decisive seven-and-a-half-length win.