Stage Star wins the Turner Novices’ Chase within the first race of Day Three on the Cheltenham Pageant – with favorite Mighty Potter again in third
Stage Star has triumphed within the Turner Novices’ Chase on the third day of the Cheltenham Festival to finish Paul Nicholls’ three-year drought on the meet.
On the primary race of St Patrick’s Thursday, jockey Harry Cobden guided the 15-2 wager to victory by a little bit greater than three lengths forward of Notlongtillmay in second after an assured leaping efficiency.
Pre-race favorite Mighty Potter, ridden by Davy Russell, was third, with Recognize It in fourth.
Cobden, the primary to journey a Nicholls winner at Cheltenham since Politilogue within the 2020 Champions Chase, stated: ‘It is beautiful. I believed it was straightforward once I rode my first winner right here on the age of 18.
‘The second got here rapidly however since then it has been a four-year drought.’
Stage Star (above) gained the Turner Novices’ Chase on the third day of the Cheltenham Pageant
It was a shock victory for Paul Nicholls (left) after an excellent journey from Harry Cobden (proper)
The win sees coach Nicholls finish his three-year drought at Cheltenham – with jockey Cobden offering Nicholls’ first win on the meet since Politilogue within the 2020 Champions Chase
Nicholls added: ‘It has been a troublesome week to this point, however it’s a troublesome place. We had been a little bit bit unfortunate yesterday (Wednesday) with a pair, however that was sensible. Completely different monitor, barely higher floor, it was at all times going to swimsuit us.
‘I stated to Harry at this time ‘be optimistic, bowl alongside in entrance and journey him like one of the best horse within the race’. He gave him a peach of a journey there… It has been a troublesome week to this point and a troublesome couple of years. It is laborious to win right here.
‘So to win with a horse we believed in, it did not go to plan final 12 months, however he is come again actually good this 12 months. It was an excellent race and he put it to mattress very well.
‘We thought he would run very well, the final run was actually good right here with an enormous weight. He is an bettering horse and wish him to take it to the following degree. Right now was an excellent take a look at.’
Favourites Mighty Potter and Recognize It began nicely, with outsider surprising occasion in seventh, and it seemed just like the consequence would run true to type. However Stage Star took the lead in direction of the primary fence and saved it for a lot of the race, with Notlongtillmay pushing laborious and Recognize It caught up behind the sphere.
Although Notlongtillmay overtook into first place earlier than the penultimate bounce, Stage Star retook the lead with an enormous leap as they headed into the ultimate straight.
Later to come back on the third day are the Pertemps Community Ultimate Handicap Hurdle (2.10pm), the Ryanair Chase (2.50), the Paddy Energy Stayers’ Hurdle (3.30), the Plate Handicap Chase (4.10), and the Mares Novices’ Hurdle (4.50).
The Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Problem Cup at 5.30pm will spherical off the third day earlier than the ultimate day of the occasion on Friday.
The Nicholls camp (above) loved joyous celebrations after profitable on St Patrick’s Thursday
It was an assured leaping and galloping efficiency all through from 15-2 horse Stage Star
