CHELTENHAM

NEW YEAR’S DAY

VENETIA Williams has her team in fine form and 3/1 favourite Aso ran out a most impressive winner of the Grade 3 Download The App Betbright Handicap Chase at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day.

This was the latest in a series of middle-distance handicap chases at the course and, with £75,000 in the kitty, might well have attracted a stronger field. That takes nothing away from the winner, who was racing off an 8lb higher mark following a similarly authoritative victory at Newbury.

Aso has been vital in jockey Charlie Deutsch’s rehabilitation following a drink-drive offence.

Still swinging along in the lead as they turned for home, it seemed that 11st 12lbs must surely count in the closing stages but Aso met the last two fences on a perfect stride and held Happy Diva by two lengths, with Ballyhill in third. Happy Diva ran well throughout and hinted at a return to form for trainer Kerry Lee.

“It was a superb performance,” Williams said. “What we learned from his run at Newbury is that he’s just as happy out in front and he is in behind; he actually grabbed hold of the bridle a bit more when he hit the front down the back. I’d say we can look at the Ryanair now. We just needed to see how things turned out today.”

Deutsch’s fortunes changed as this was his fourth win from the last six rides. “I love this horse to bits and Venetia is an amazing trainer. The horses are in form and it’s just brilliant at the moment,” he said.

FINE STYLE

Lostintranslation (3/1) rallied in determined fashion to win the Grade 2 Dipper Novices’ Chase ahead of Defi Du Seuil and maintain Colin Tizzard’s fine run.

Only four lined up after When Crucial Role was taken out but it was still an absorbing contest as Loastintranslation took them along, jumping particularly well for Robbie Power.

Nicky Henderson’s On The Blind Side was 9/4 favourite but soon dropped out. Defi Du Seuil looked like the main danger with Black Op just about keeping tabs on the front two. Barry Geraghty moved closer and Defi Du Seuil looked a certain winner. However, Lostintranslation, having jumped fluently throughout had just enough left to answer Power’s calls and retake the lead and win by just over a length.

Like most experts, Richard Johnson – who would later win the listed bumper on Tom Lacey’s newcomer Glory And Fortune – thought Nigel Twiston-Davies’ Wholestone had a clear-cut chance in the Grade 2 Dornan Engineering Relkeel Hurdle.

Wholestone was officially top-rated and duly started at 6/4 favourite. He led at various times in the race and was always well there but could not contain northern challenger Midnight Shadow (8/1) in the closing stages and was beaten just over two lengths with Old Guard running his usual reliable race in third.

Trained by Sue Smith, Midnight Shadow has taken on good horses in his time. He cut little ice in the Greatwood Handicap Hurdle here but had since outpointed Ch’Tibello at Aintree and that looked highly relevant in the context of a slightly below-par Relkeel.

“He’s a bit bull-headed at home and we don’t have anything we can work with him,” Smith said. “He’s improved all the time we’ve had him, from bumpers to novice hurdles to handicaps and onwards. He’s a very good jumper. The owners favour the Champion Hurdle but I don’t see him dropping back in trip.”

Danny Cook rode a good tactical race and, speaking after the success, he said: “He won the Scottish Champion Hurdle as a four-year-old. We’ve always thought a lot of him and it’s nice to be proved right.”

SURPRISE

Ahead of the opening Listed Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle it looked like Nicky Henderson’s I Can’t Explain (5/6) would add to the trainer’s list of star Cheltenham Festival candidates.

However, the ground was faster than it was for his impressive winning debut at Sandown and he had no answer to Fergal O’Brien’s Jarveys Plate 12/1 who enjoyed the longer trip of two and a half miles and went right away in the closing stages to beat him by 13 lengths.

“Yes, that’s the way to blow a horse’s handicap mark, I realise that!” joked winning jockey Paddy Brennan. “But we knew he was good – very, very good – and he’s proved it over the longer trip.”

Jarveys Plate is owned by Chris Coley’s Yes No Wait Sorries, a group of cricket-mad enthusiasts who have had their share of winners over the years and include former top-class Gloucestershire opening batsman Andy Stovold in their ranks. O’Brien may bring Jarveys Plate back on trials day later this month.

In the Join The Betbright Racing Club Handicap Chase over the full Gold Cup distance Henderson’s 7/2 chance Beware The Bear made most for Jerry McGrath and put in a picture round, coming home five lengths clear of Shanroe Santos. Veteran Perfect Candidate put in an excellent performance to finish third.

STILL A FORCE

Aux Ptits Soins was one of the most impressive winners afternoon. The grey, who won the Coral Cup soon after joining Paul Nicholls, is now with his former assistant Dan Skelton after suffering a few physical problems.

The 5/1 favourite gave Harry Skelton his 130th winner of the season. Sent on before the last, he shot seven lengths clear of O’Brien’s De Name Evades Me with Nicholls’ The Eaglehaslanded back in third.

“John and Lisa Hales have been incredibly patient,” Skelton said. “Bridget Andrews (the jockey’s partner) rides him most days and told me he was near his best and would win today. I imagine the Stayers’ Hurdle will be considered.”