Bet365 Celebration Chase (Grade 1)

THE feature of the day in terms of status was the Grade 1 Celebration Chase, and while it saw a return to form for Altior (Nicky Henderson/Nico de Boinville) under a change of tactics, the former champion had to give best to Greaneteen (Paul Nicholls/Bryony Frost) from the second-last fence.

The winner was securing the middle leg of a treble on the card for Nicholls, who had received his umpteenth champion trainer trophy before racing began.

Greaneteen was no match for stablemate Politologue in the Tingle Creek here in December, but that was his first bite at the Grade 1 cherry.

The 13/2 chance has improved since, finishing just half a length behind Chacun Pour Soi when a close fourth in the Champion Chase, and proving that was no fluke with another career best here. He must be taken seriously in this division next year.

Sceau Royal (Alan King/Daryl Jacob) jumped away to his left at times, and although he had his chance seemingly travelling well enough at the Pond Fence, he was left behind by the front two in the straight, beaten three and three-quarter lengths and 12 lengths into third.

Put The Kettle On almost jumped into the back of stablemate Ornua at the first fence, and she never looked comfortable in the race afterwards.

Given her win at Cheltenham, it is not hard to forgive this effort, and she should bounce back granted a break.

Frodon the finest

The Grade 2 Oaksey Chase provided Frodon (Paul Nicholls) with an opportunity to showcase his bold jumping and his gameness, and he gave Bryony Frost the first leg of a famous double on the card.

He made almost all, jumping boldly on the whole, and fending off the challenge of the smooth-travelling Mister Fisher (Nicky Henderson/Nico de Boinville) after the last when looking vulnerable.

The margin was a neck for the 4/5 favourite in a race which looked a match on paper, and boiled into one as the race developed.

The King George winner didn’t have to hit the same heights to gain his latest blacktype win, but the manner of his victory typifies the qualities which have made him such a favourite, and it’s only appropriate that he should play a starring role on the day jumps racing takes its seasonal curtain call.

Select Hurdle

The Grade 2 Select Hurdle saw 2019 winner Younevercall (Kim Bailey/David Bass) reprise that victory, albeit in less spectacular style, and the well-backed 5/2 favourite had only half a length to spare over the battling Indefatigable (Paul Webber/Rex Dingle).

In fairness to the winner, he increased his margin of victory over 2019 runner-up On The Blind Side, but that rival looked over the top having had a hard race at Aintree.

Call Me Lord was beaten by nine lengths into third, but almost lost Daryl Jacob after pitching on landing at the last when seemingly just getting the worst of a battle with the winner.

The win was a fifth graded success of the season for Kim Bailey, who first held a full licence in 1978, and his continued revival has been one of the best stories of recent seasons, with First Flow’s success in the Clarence House Chase the high point.

Hopefully there will be further Grade 1 glory in store.

Poignant success

Another immensely popular success on the card was that of Belargus in the Josh Gifford Memorial.

Josh trained his final winner with Skycab in the corresponding event in 2003, a win which almost took the roof off the stand, due to Josh’s popularity with the Esher crowd, and it’s not surprising that son Nick has wanted desperately to win the race since it has been renamed in his father’s memory.

He finally managed that feat, and did a passable impression of his old man as he fought back the tears afterwards. It was a special moment in what was, and ought to be, a special day.