ULTIMA HANDICAP

CHASE (GRADE 3)

AFTER enduring his share of near misses at the meeting, Nick Williams has now sent out winners at the last two Cheltenham Festivals as Coo Star Sivola and the trainer’s stepdaughter, Lizzie Kelly, bagged the first handicap of the week.

For the successful jockey this victory was one of redemption after she missed out on the Williams-trained Flying Tiger in the Fred Winter last year having opted to partner another runner for the stable.

Coo Star Sivola may have lined up as a relatively lightly raced six-year-old against a field of seasoned opponents but this was already this third festival appearance following placed efforts in the Fred Winter and the Martin Pipe.

His record at the track coupled with a progressive profile made Coo Star Sivola a major fancy for this three-mile handicap and the 5/1 chance delivered to become just the third winning favourite in this race in the last 25 years.

The race itself was a straightforward one for the winning pair and when they struck for home before the second last, Coo Star Sivola well in control. A safe jump at the final fence looked to have sealed victory for the son of Assessor but he needed the line badly late on and it was only by a neck that he got home from the rallying Shantou Flyer.

DELIGHTED

“After last year and the Fred Winter I’d made my peace with never riding a festival winner. I’m shocked and delighted and thank you so much to everyone at home, the people behind this horse are one in a million,” exclaimed a delighted Kelly. “He’s been crying out for three miles and fences and he’s shown that today.”

Williams reflected: “I thought he might get caught halfway up the run in but he held on. It would have been heart breaking to be beaten today.

“It was all perfection and the horse has always run well here. This is his track.”