THE Cross-Country Chase at Cheltenham on Friday saw Keith Donoghue demonstrate why he has few peers in the discipline as he gave Final Orders (Gavin Cromwell) a brilliant ride to take the contest by the scruff of the neck.

Taking the Aintree fence on the first circuit, Donoghue moved stealthily to the inside and went from midfield to dispute the lead, and he injected pace when getting to the front to ensure the race would not descent into a sprint up the final hill.

His mount was able to gain ground at most of the fences and the rider kept enough for the finish to withhold the challenge of market leader Jarrive De L’Est (Emmet Mullins/Donagh Myler) to win by four and a quarter lengths at odds of 16/1.

Keith Donoghue said: “He was enjoying it and taking me along. I think he is better when he is travelling and enjoying it. That’s seven wins over the course (for the jockey) now, including five at The Festival.”

Supreme dream

The Friday card at Cheltenham opened with the British EBF ‘National Hunt’ Novices’ Hurdle, a race which attracted a strong field, with eight of the 10 runners having won their most recent outing. It looked competitive on paper but was turned into a procession by the exciting Old Park Star (Nicky Henderson/Nico de Boinville) who followed up a Kempton win on his stable/hurdling debut by beating Glance At Midnight (Andrew Martin/Shane Quinlan) by 12 lengths having raced prominently from the start.

The winner was sent off as the 5/2 second favourite and his winning margin could have been doubled had his rider not merely nudged him along after a flying leap at the last had put the race to bed. Henderson won this race with Chantry House in 2019, with that horse making the frame in the Supreme, and Old Park Star looks a most exciting prospect for owners Gordon and Su Hall, who also have Newbury winner Act Of Innocence in training at Seven Barrows having moved their horses from Paul Nicholls.

“Kempton and this place are two different things, but I loved the way he came up the hill,” said Henderson. “He’s just the most likeable, straightforward type, and I was impressed with him.”

Sixmilebridge in style

Owned by the Megson family, Sixmilebridge has always had a big home reputation, but hasn’t enjoyed Cheltenham in the past, with three previous runs at the home of jumping seeing him fail to show his form, but having scraped home on his chase debut at Ayr, he excelled himself in the Santa “The Visit” Chasing Excellence Novices’ Chase, winning by 13 lengths and 36 lengths from only rivals Califet En Vol (Nicky Henderson/Nico de Boinville) and Royal Infantry (Dan/Harry Skelton).

Setting out to make all, Sixmilebridge was badgered by his rivals from an early stage, but his jumping, sticky at times on debut, was much improved here, and got better as the race wore on.

Royal Infantry began to feel the pinch running downhill to the straight, and when Califet En Vol stumbled shortly after the penultimate fence, the only danger to Sixmilebridge, sent off at 2/1, was the final fence, which he jumped with aplomb to post a smart performance.

“We’re delighted,” was the immediate response from Andrew Megson.

“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 Scilly Isles.

“He’s a proper horse – probably the best we have this season.”

Danny delivers win for the ‘Mammy’

THE Turners Handicap Chase over the Gold Cup course and distance saw L’Homme Presse head the weights, but while he rallied gamely for second having lost his position mid-race, the glory went to Blaze The Way, representing the mother and son combination of Mags and Danny Mullins.

The 15/2 shot was just out of the weights in this Premier Handicap but was in the form of his life to gain a first success over fences in this £100,000 event.

Mullins said: “It’s a pleasure to come out and ride horses like this. Little boys that keep their mammies happy at Christmas will do alright in life!

“It’s special to ride a winner here for mum but to be fair she owed me it as she beat me here at the Cheltenham Festival in the Albert Bartlett a few years ago when I was looking for my first Cheltenham winner.

“It’s great though and good craic. For my mother to come here, a small stable, Kiera is over here with the horse and there is a great team at home. They’ve put it all together and it is not easy to come here and plan out a £100,000 handicap.”

Fortune De Mer (Dan & Harry Skelton) is not without his quirks, but Harry Skelton has found the key to him, weaving through to win a Grade 2 novice here in October and again sitting well off the gallop before coming through smoothly to land the Catesby Estates Handicap Hurdle, beating Continuance (Martin/Freddie Keighley) by half a length.

The 16/5 favourite looked to have plenty to do at the top of the hill, but Skelton was full of horse and kept his nerve before unleashing the five-year-old on the run to the last hurdle.

Veterans

The middle-distance veterans’ chase saw Can You Call (Evan Williams/Ben Jones) end a long losing streak in good style. The 10-year-old hadn’t won over fences since February 2022 and was out of the handicap proper but he jumped with alacrity to deny Torn And Frayed (Will & Nigel /Sam Twiston-Davies) by seven and half lengths having been well backed into 7/2.

Favourite Eldorado Allen (Joe Tizzard/Brendan Powell) ran another game race to be third but was anchored by a rise in the weights for winning a similar race here last month.