Sam Winner© Photo Healy Racing
Paul Nicholls' Sam Winner defied top weight in a gruelling renewal of the Murphy Group Handicap Chase at Cheltenham.
The former classy hurdler (15-2) lost his pitch at one point and looked like he was not going to take much interest, but Sam Twiston-Davies persevered and it paid off.
For quite some time Saint Are and The Druids Nephew looked like fighting out the finish, so well were they travelling, but Sam Winner came back on the bridle approaching the third-last and stayed on dourly to hold the latter by a length and a half.
Twiston-Davies said: "It's very hard work out there. It's a testament to him that he could win as he didn't enjoy it, it's a great bit of training. He's genuine, but very lazy, although when you need a big jump he gives you one."
Nicholls added: "He never jumped on the first circuit and nearly dropped himself out, which he did over hurdles, but I told Sam not to give up on him. He can be idle, but I thought that was as good a ride as you'll see.
"I had a big decision to make as I thought he'd run a big race in the Hennessy, but the owners wanted to run here. It would be hard to go for the Hennessy now, and I have Rocky Creek and a couple of others for that.
"He's a National horse, without a shadow of a doubt. How we get there I don't know. You could stick him in the Lexus (at Leopardstown), he just might be suited by going in a small-field conditions chase somewhere."
