Padraig Roche achieved the incredible feat of winning the McCoy Contractors Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle for a second time with siblings, as Brazil’s half-brother Saratoga obliged under Mark Walsh for J.P. McManus.

Once rated 93 on the flat for Aidan O’Brien, the half-brother to dual classic winner Capri placed on his first three starts over hurdles for Roche and had been favourite for the race in recent days, but was eventually sent off 10/1. The Nicky Henderson-trained Mustang Du Breuil, also owned by birthday boy McManus, topped the market at 7/2.

There had been some question marks over Saratoga’s jumping previously, but the son of Camelot was an easy watch on Tuesday, travelling in a prime position behind clear leader Dignam throughout.

Mark Walsh loomed alongside Richard Bandey’s 40/1 shot Klycot turning for home and asked for an effort approaching the final flight. The well-supported Winston Junior, trained by Faye Bramley, began to stay on strongly, but it was too late, as Saratoga ran on well to score by two and a quarter lengths.

Bramley’s fancy claimed runner-up honours under Jack Kennedy, finishing three and a quarter lengths in front of Klycot. The Paul Nicholls-trained Pourquoi Pas Papa claimed fourth, while Jessica Harrington’s sole runner of the day, Quinta Do Lago, took fifth.

Birthday gift

McManus, who was celebrating his 75th birthday, reported: “I met Michael O’Leary today, he wished me a happy birthday and said, ‘Only the good die young!’

“Every winner at Cheltenham is very, very special. That one I go back a long way with Padraig’s father Christy. I owned the horse’s [half] brother a couple of years ago, Brazil.

“They were praying that the ground would be fast, as he bounces off it. They were worried the ground might be a bit too soft for him a couple of weeks ago, but every day it was drying out.

“We’ve had a lot of fun. We’ve had some great days here. Everybody leans towards coming to Cheltenham and it means so much to so many. I’m delighted that one has won for Padraig.”

The winning trainer commented: “He travelled great and jumped well, and Mark said he stayed well. They went a good gallop too, which helps. He’d run well against a good mare (at Naas) and we thought he’d improve, which he did.

“We came here by near enough the same route when we won this with Brazil, who is his half-brother, and after Christmas we thought we might have a chance. So, we’ve had it in mind for a while.

“Getting the horses is half the battle and luckily Frank (Berry) and JP agreed to buy him. We are delighted to have him. He’s very straightforward.

“We would only have 12 or 13 jumpers and five or six for the flat - that’s all we have. Today was what mattered. We’ll find out if he’s a bit better than a handicapper down the road.”

Fine record

Walsh also partnered Brazil to glory four years ago and remains the winning-most rider in the Fred Winter, with four wins to his name. On his latest victory, he reported: “I got a great start, I got out where I wanted to be and was sitting third or fourth and they went a good gallop and he jumped great.

“Sam Twiston-Davies actually said to me, going down to the fifth-last hurdle, a few of these horses in front of us aren’t going to be good enough to lead us, so going to the second-last hurdle I pulled out. Going to the last I sent him on again.

“You’d be hoping that this horse is good enough for graded races. He gave me a very good feel.

Walsh and McManus’ day got off to a disappointing start, with Willie Mullins’ highly-touted Mighty Park finishing a well-beaten ninth in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle. Walsh reflected: “I was very disappointed with Mighty Park in the first race - he jumped and travelled great; when I asked him to pick up the pace he just struggled and couldn’t quicken enough.

“He’s probably going to be a stayer in time. It was only his second racecourse run so it was a big ask for him. We gave it a shot, anyway.”