Nicholls wins the cross country Sire Collonges clung on in a thrilling Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase at Cheltenham for trainer Paul Nicholls and jockey Ryan Mahon. Sixth on his debut on this idiosyncratic track last month, the seven-year-old grey was a 7-1 shot for his return to Prestbury Park, but French challenger Pasquini Rouge and Shalimar Fromentro appeared to have it between them rounding the home turn. The pack bridged the gap, however, and there were still a host of horses in with a chance jumping the final obstacle. Sire Collonges dug deep up the hill to hold off the late challenge of Any Currency by half a length, giving Mahon his second major winner in a week following his Grand Sefton victory aboard Rebel Rebellion over Aintree's National fences last Saturday. Nicholls said: "He couldn't seem to win a handicap chase, so we tried something different and it has worked. Ryan is a very good rider. I suppose he will have to come back here for the Festival race. I'll have to persuade the owner to let me enter him in the National, as it could be right up his street." Jonjo O'Neill's Cheltenham Festival winner and Grand National runner-up Sunnyhillboy enjoyed a welcome return to form under a power-packed Tony McCoy ride in the Citipost Handicap Hurdle. Winner of the Kim Muir at Cheltenham last year and beaten just a nose by Neptune Collonges at Aintree a month later, the 10-year-old has largely struggled since. Sent off at 10-1 for his latest assignment, Sunnyhillboy travelled strongly for much of the three-mile contest and rallied for pressure in the straight to score by three-quarters of a length from the fast-finishing Return Spring. So Fine was third. O'Neill said: "I probably will give him another run over fences after the National weights come out. We have to be thinking about it (Aintree)."
