Star Shines For Nicholls

Paul Nicholls secured his second success at the 2006 Cheltenham Festival as 14-1 chance Star De Mohaison prevailed in an incident-packed renewal of the Royal & SunAlliance Novices' Chase.

Always travelling well for Barry Geraghty, the five-year-old was in the lead but being challenged by Back In Front coming to the second-last.

That rival crashed out to leave Idle Talk the only serious challenger but Star De Mohaison was not for catching and powered to a six-length win.

Darkness, who never jumped well at any stage, stayed on from another parish to finish a further 11 lengths back in third.

The race lost some of its lustre as the well-fancied Our Ben unseated Ruby Walsh at the third and there was a further blow for punters when 9-2 favourite Commercial Flyer was pulled up before the fourth-last, while Ardaghey crashed out at the ninth.

All the while Star De Mohaison was travelling stylishly but the Edward O'Grady-trained Back In Front had looked ready to make a battle of it when coming to grief two from home.

He blundered through the top, however, impeding Bewleys Berry in the process, with Bold Bishop unseating Tony McCoy after getting mixed up in the trouble.

The Listener was another to crash out, all of which left Star De Mohaison to lead home 33-1 shot Idle Talk and give owner Sir Robert Ogden his second Festival triumph in as many days following Voy Por Ustedes in the Arkle.

Barry Simpson, racing manager for Ogden, said: 'I'm absolutely thrilled. Sir Robert has been coming to this meeting for 20 years but sadly this is the meeting he hasn't come to and we have had two fantastic winners.

'I think Ruby made his commitment (to Our Ben) some time ago. Barry Geraghty rode him at Fontwell and was obviously keen to continue with the ride.

'The horse jumped superbly the whole way round. He had everything off the bridle and it was just a case of him standing up and he's flown over the last three.

'We would like to think that (coming back for the Cheltenham Gold Cup) would be the case but Sir Robert has had a lot of ups and downs with his horses.

'It certainly give us something to dream about though.'

Tom George, trainer of Idle Talk, said: 'I wish the race had been yesterday as the ground might have been a bit slower.

'He has run a great race but there are no immediate plans. He shows you everything you want in a National Hunt horse and he could be a National type in the future.'

Charlie Egerton, responsible for Darkness, said: 'He's an excellent horse and has run a blinder.

'He might have only finished third but you need to look at where he came from to finish third and that shows his talent.

'He didn't travel very well which didn't help him. If he hits a flat spot it's in his head.

'We'll see how he is but he might go to Aintree.'

(C) PA Sport