Alnilam impresses for in-form Murphy and Bowen

Olly Murphy is eyeing an immediate step up to Grade One level with Alnilam after he produced a spring-heeled display to strike gold on the opening day of the season at Cheltenham.

Aided by champion jockey Sean Bowen, the Warren Chase handler headed for the Cotswolds in sensational form following a Perth four-timer and a treble at Worcester earlier this week, and Alnilam had looked a smart addition to the chasing ranks when making a successful start at Uttoxeter three weeks ago.

Dan Skelton’s Country Mile, the runner-up at Uttoxeter, was again in opposition in the Holland Cooper ‘Chasing Excellence’ Novices’ Chase at Prestbury Park and the pair went off 9-4 joint-favourites for the rematch – but Alnilam confirmed his superiority in some style.

After jumping well and setting a strong gallop alongside Centara, who was eventually pulled up, Alnilam had a significant advantage over the chasing pack rounding the home turn and any chance Country Mile had of closing the gap ended when he ploughed through the second fence from home.

Alnilam continued on his merry way under Bowen and passed with post with four and a half lengths in hand over Gordon Elliott’s staying-on Irish raider Relieved Of Duties, with Country Mile third.

“He’s a good horse who loves getting on with it and I can’t believe how well he jumps a fence because he didn’t jump a hurdle well at all,” said Murphy.

“It’s weird how well he jumps a fence because he jumped a hurdle bloody badly. I went to Uttoxeter three weeks ago and I wasn’t sure this was the right thing to do, but he likes it doesn’t he?

“He has a fair engine because he had them all in trouble at the top of the hill, which is very unusual around here, and I don’t think he needs good ground – I actually think he’ll be a better horse on slower ground.

“I’ll speak to Sean, but I might go straight to Sandown for the Grade One (Henry VIII Novices’ Chase, December 6).”

French Ship won the curtain-raising William Hill Each Way Extra Handicap Hurdle for the training partnership of Philip Hobbs and Johnson White.

A useful novice last season, the five-year-old was still in contention when falling on his reappearance in the Silver Trophy at Chepstow a fortnight ago and was a 6-1 shot to bounce back under Ben Jones.

Carrying the colours of last season’s shock Champion Hurdle winner Golden Ace, who is set for Wetherby next weekend, French Ship finished well from the final flight to beat Navajo Indy by just under four lengths, after which Hobbs said: “It’s great to be back here and it’s a good start.

“This horse fell at Chepstow when he was still going well, but it was a long way from home and he’s won well today, albeit he was a little bit green on the run-in.

“Although there were lots of runners, they were quite well strung out so there was always going to be plenty of room for him and given he’s only five there’s room for progression.”

Paddy Brennan teamed up with old boss Fergal O’Brien to land the Foundation Developments Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle through Leloopa (14-1).

The former leading jockey is plying his trade as a syndicate manager these days and the pint-sized Leloopa has proved a shrewd purchase, with this her fourth win for the team.

“She was an amazing buy by Paddy, this mare is unbelievable – she’s a pony,” said O’Brien.

“I’m delighted for Tom Broughton (winning jockey), he rides her at home and she’s not easy – you have to dance to her tune a little bit.

“It’s great for Paddy and the syndicate. Paddy went to the start to be with her. He buys them very well, he doesn’t pay fortunes for them and lets us get on with the job, which is half the battle.”

There were emotional scenes in the famous winner’s enclosure after 17-year-old Freddie Keighley claimed his first Cheltenham victory aboard De Temps En Temps (22-1), trained by his father Martin.

“It’s amazing. I’ve been coming here since I was born and it’s been my dream my whole childhood really to get a winner at Cheltenham,” said the rider.

“I thought it was my race over after he had a mistake two out, but he stayed on so well to the line.

“I half dropped my reins, but I was just trying to get every bit out of him.”

The concluding Santa – The Visit Amateur Jockeys’ Handicap Chase went to Sara Bradstock’s Smugglers Haven (10-3 favourite) who turned a sequence of seconds into a deserved victory in the hands of the trainer’s daughter, Lily Bradstock.