Bushkeeper addds to Henderson haul

Nicky Henderson sent out his 25th Cheltenham Festival winner after The Bushkeeper spearheaded a one-two for the trainer in the Fulke Walwyn Kin Muir Challenge Cup Handicap Chase today by out-pointing stable mate Ceanannas Mor.

Amateur rider David Crosse brought the eight-year-old with a well-timed run to lead two out before the combination stretched seven lengths clear of the runner up.

Henderson said: 'I feel a bit sorry for Andrew Tinkler who is an amateur rider and worked for me as he would have ridden the winner until he got injured.

'This race was the plan since he won on his first outing for me at Huntingdon last month. He went up in the handicap for that win but he seems to be improving.'

Trainer Hughie Morrison, who had watched his Marble Arch run a gallant second to Hors La Loi III in the Smurfit Champion Hurdle, went one better 40 minutes later with Frenchman`s Creek in the William Hill National Hunt Handicap Chase.

Given a peach of ride by Paul Carberry, the 8-1 chance was held up well in arrears until making stealthy headway from the top of the hill as Carbury Cross set sail for home.

But Carberry had the move covered and producing his mount to challenge at the last soon took his rival`s measure, quickening clear to score by three lengths with 16 lengths back to Ad Hoc.

Ladbrokes cut Frenchman`s Creek to 16-1 from 40-1 for the Martell Grand National.

The Irish money went astray on Calladine in the Pertemps Handicap Hurdle Final as the well-backed favourite faded from the home turn to finish well beaten.

Instead, the race provided an emotional victory for jockey Tony Dobbin whose brother Barney was killed in a car crash last week.

The rider drove Freetown clear on the run-in to score by four lengths from Surprising.

Winning trainer Len Lungo said: 'Tony came back from Ireland on Sunday and he has been too upset to come and ride out.

'He was naturally devastated and to be honest he didn`t feel like riding. So we`re choked to see him get this success.'