JPR One records popular Cheltenham success for red-hot Tizzard

JPR One continued Joe Tizzard’s purple match by carrying top-weight to victory in the feature event on day one of the new season at Cheltenham.

The Dorset handler made the trip to Prestbury Park buoyed by a Thursday four-timer at Ffos Las and will have had high hopes for one of his stable stars, who very nearly struck Grade One gold on the final day of last season at Sandown when going down by a head to Edwardstone in the Celebration Chase.

The nine-year-old had 12st on his back as a 3-1 joint-favourite for the £100,000 squareintheair.com Handicap Chase, but jumped well up front in the hands of Brendan Powell and dug deep to repel the strong-finishing Traprain Law by three-quarters of a length.

Dan Skelton’s Calico, bidding to win this race for the third year in succession, threatened to complete the hat-trick rounding the final bend but weakened into fourth place on the run-in.

Tizzard said: “He is a fantastic horse, you know.

“He got his ground and everything went right today. But he still had top-weight, and he had to do it.

“They went quick, didn’t they? Halfway up the run-in I was like, keep going! But it’s lovely he’s got one in the bag. He does it every year and produces a big one.

“We’ll probably come back here for the Shloer.”

Reflecting on his excellent recent form, the trainer added: “I’m having a very good week, but Cheltenham is a bit different in big races.

“I’m running good horses, the horses that won at Ffos Las are some of my best novices and they’d done their work.””

Powell said: “He’s pretty cool, isn’t he? He’s got some spin and always runs well fresh – I think he’s only been beaten once fresh.

“He had 12st and is a horse that has kind of been in no man’s land for a few years now. He’s not quite a Grade One horse, but he’s a real good handicapper. He’s always lumping a lot of weight, but he’s a joy to ride and loves this top of the ground.

“It was tight at the end. He was getting tired, but he’s a good old boy.”

Gordon Elliott and Jack Kennedy combined for a double, with Bowensonfire justifying even-money favouritism in the Catesby Estates ‘Chasing Excellence’ Novices’ Chase before stablemate Cosmos d’Ainay caused a minor surprise at 11-1 when winning the McCoy Contractors Novices’ Hurdle.

Of Bowensonfire, Elliott – who confirmed his recent engagement to Kate Harrington, daughter of top trainer Jessica – said: “The lads (owners KTDA Racing) are from the UK, so you could see him over here again in novice chases. He could be a horse that could make the Grand Annual.”

Kennedy added: “He normally jumps a lot better. At the first, he just had to put himself right and lost his confidence a bit. It took him a while to warm into it but once he got into a rhythm, he was very good.”

Frontier Prince (10-1) provided Fergal O’Brien with his 50th Cheltenham winner in the William Hill Epic Boosts Handicap Hurdle under Jack Hogan.

O’Brien said: “I’ve never made it a secret that this is my favourite racecourse. I love coming here and yo have 50 winners here is incredible – I didn’t realise until someone just told me!

“Jimmy Greenley owns and bred this horse. When he ran at Perth, Jimmy had to take five trains from Bromley in London to get there. But he got there and it’s special for him to own our 50th winner here today as he has been a fantastic owner and I am delighted for him.”

There was success for another local trainer in the Foundation Developments Conditional Jockeys Handicap Hurdle, with Harry Atkins steering Martin Keighley’s Continuance (6-1) to victory from the front.

The last race of the day was the Chapel Down Amateur Jockeys’ Handicap Chase, which went to the Cian Collins-trained Irish raider Brandt (10-1), with Jamie Scallan doing the steering.