Henry on the mark for McManus and Hobbs Bold Henry took a huge leap forward on his two previous attempts over fences in the Paddy Power Handicap Chase at Cheltenham. Representing Philip Hobbs and JP McManus, for whom this is always an important meeting, the 14-1 chance has very few miles on the clock and sat off a pace set for much of the way by De Faoithesdream. When the leader faded, Sew On Target struck for home over the final couple of obstacles, but he was caught on the run-in and beaten two and a quarter lengths by Richard Johnson's mount. Hobbs said: "He'd only had a couple of runs over fences, but he's quite good. He had a tendon problem and isn't a young horse. You'd hope there'd be normal improvement to come, but to be honest we hadn't really thought beyond today." Johnson added: "Philip said he had been working well, but he's had his problems. The great thing about JP is that if horses need time he's happy to let them have it. "He'd only run in two chases, which was a bit of a worry, but I had a bit of luck and while he was a bit novicey he was good at the last when he needed to be." Kim Bailey ended an unusually long absence from the Cheltenham winner's enclosure after the Opus Energy Amateur Riders' Handicap Chase. The success in the first event of the Open meeting came through last year's runner-up Charingworth (5-1), who was ridden patiently by Harry Bannister and finished three and a half lengths clear of Benbens. The trainer of both the Gold Cup and Champion Hurdle winner in 1995 said: "It's been nearly 14 years since our last one. We've had a few seconds and there was that memorable incident a couple of years ago when our horse took the wrong course in the cross country. "He's a real family favourite, this horse, and I just told Harry not to hit the front too soon."
