The 100/30 Favourite Supremely West justified the confidence of his trainer Dan Skelton as he recorded a comfortable three-and-a-half length success in the ultra-competitive 24-runner Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle.

Dan Skelton said: “After running him over two and a half at Aintree, which was a disaster, we said look, we’re all in, we’re gambling, we’re qualified for the race. I said to Jimmy, ‘Look, this might happen if you’re really patient’, and to be fair to the man, he has been. If you have got one you think it can happen with, you’ve got to be patient.

“There was a bit going on in the race and he was a bit fresh the whole way, but it was great.

“Our job is to win, and to win with with ones which can win, and you can win any one, and we’re very proud of that. The whole team work hard to get it all to happen.

“It’s not ever as simple as it looks, but it’s been an idea since he qualified. I toyed with the idea that he didn’t stay and dropped him back in trip last time so see if he didn’t stay, but that was obviously the wrong thing and we’ve built back up to that. I’m very proud of the horse. He had a big chance today and sometimes when the light shines on you, you can crack under the heat, but he didn’t.”

On Kabral Du Mathan, who was fourth in the Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle, he said: “Kabral is a young horse, he’s come here to win. Harry gave him a sublime ride, he then just didn’t stay – what can you do? That’s our sport, you have to get up that hill. I wasn’t counting my chickens, I knew there was a question, I thought he would stay, but he didn’t.”

Winning rider Harry Skelton said: “In sport, professional sport, you’re never satisfied. You just want the next one, and I thought Kabral Du Mathan would win. But Tom Messenger, our assistant, said, ‘Don’t worry, this one will stay’, and he was right. We’ve been running him back at two-and-a-half, stepping back up to three has really suited him. Dan has trained him perfectly, hasn’t over-raced him.

“I’m delighted for Jimmy (Fyffe, owner), obviously he’s fairly new to us in the yard, but is heavily invested in a lot of horses. His dream was to have a winner at the Festival, and we’ve delivered that. Dan said to him, ‘Jimmy, we will get you that’. I’m really happy for Jimmy, this will mean a lot to him. Tuesday feels a long time ago and you just want more; you get greedy in this game but it’s such a great leveler, nothing is easy. I’m delighted to be able to walk back down there after a winner again.”

Ruth Jefferson, trainer of runner-up Lavida Adiva, her only runner at the meeting, said: “She’s runs a blinder. She’s unrideable and made Brian’s life very difficult out there. We couldn’t bury her down the rail and we were probably right not to.You have to give her some kind of room but she’s not easy. She’s not even very big, bless her, but she’s tough. She’s like a terrier.

“We are stood here (in second) wondering why we are not over there (the winner’s spot) but we are still thrilled. Why wouldn’t we be. We are second in a big-field handicap with a cracking filly.”

Ger Tumelty, assistant to Olly Murphy, trainer of third–placed Ikarak: “Our lad ran a cracker. He’d won two out of three this season and he qualified for the race. Now he’s finished third in a Pertemps at 40-1 - a career best.”

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