Chantry House rolled back the years to take the Betfair Handicap Chase in decisive fashion at Cheltenham.
Nicky Henderson’s veteran was a two-time Grade One winner in his novice chasing days, winning both the Cheltenham Festival and Aintree in 2021.
He would become a Gold Cup contender the following year but was blue-ribboned after claiming the Cotswold Chase on Trials.Since then, he has struggled for wins and has been seen struggling over hurdles.
Returning to the bigger hurdles on the day he turned 11, Chantry House showed his old verve when sent off at 8-1 and traveled kindly for his pilot Nico de Boinville to follow Ben Pauling’s Bowtogreatness and Sam Thomas’ Our Strength in the straight .
He was handed by De Boinville heading into the last before going home by six and a half lengths from our strength, who beat Bowtogreatness for second.Nigel Twiston-Davies’ 5-6 favorite Broadway boy went well for fourth.
A surprised Henderson told ITV Racing: “The plan was actually to go hunting with him and I just had to meet him again to be ready.
“I’m not sure we didn’t do it, and I’m not sure he’s still authorized (to prosecute hunters) now. he might have to go and win the Grand National or instead.
“It confused me a bit and we were just trying to rekindle his enthusiasm because he was a very, very good horse. We might have to reconsider.
“He’s really enjoyed himself and hasn’t been over fences for a long time only because he fell at Wetherby a couple of years ago which really hurt him and damaged his confidence.
“She spent last year doing intermittent hurdles and it was hard work, I have to admit she’s just beautiful.
“He’s jumped well, traveled well and just followed them. I thought he’d get tired, but it’s nice to see him come back and do it. It was a bit of a surprise at the time though I have to admit.”
Kalif Du Berlais impresses for Team Ditcheat
Calif Du Berlaine Paul Nicholls got the new year off to a great start with a bloodless display in the opening Sonic The Hedgehog 3 In Cinemas Now Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase at Cheltenham.
Several of Ditcheat’s manager’s lines failed to shine over the Christmas period, including Regent’s Stroll, who was the beaten favorite in the same colors for mass owner Sir Alex Ferguson at Newbury last Saturday.
However, there were no such problems for 4-7 favorite Calif Du Berle, who willingly dispatched both of his rivals under the unstoppable Harry Cobden to build on his chasing win in the fall.
Cobden told Racing TV. “We’ve always liked him a lot and he was very lucky not to hurt himself at Carlisle the first time when he had a terrible fall by the ditch.
“The plan was to take the lead today but I didn’t think we were going too fast so I just let him go away with the trophy and I thought his jump was fantastic.
“He doesn’t drive like a five-year-old, and he just did it today.
“We’ve got a lot of options where we can go, and he’ll definitely go two and a half miles. But he’s only five, so he probably doesn’t want to run tons on the clock at a young age. “I’m lucky to have him for”.
Diva Luna (5-4 favourite) bravely held off the challenge of Newton Tornado to win the Richmond Villages And Bupa Care Homes Maiden Hurdle.
Trained by Ben Pauling and ridden by Keelan Woods, Diva Luna was a Grade Two bumper winner at Aintree but suffered a surprise setback last month when she was beaten over her barriers.
The six-year-old made amends with a gutsy performance, digging deep after jumping last to take the one-and-three-quarter-length verdict that saw her cut to 14-1 from the 25-year-old for the Paddy Power for the Mares Novices’ Hurdle at the Festival in March :
