JOLLY`S GIANT STEP TOWARDS CHELTENHAM Jolly Green Giant is bound for the Cheltenham Festival after maintaining his unbeaten record over fences in the Halliwell Landau Novices` Chase at Haydock Park today. The eight-year-old, who at 17.1 hands high dwarfed his rivals, stayed on dourly under Dean Gallagher in the testing conditions to defeat Somemanforoneman by one length. He was far from foot-perfect at times but connections are hopeful that he is a live contender for Festival honours, although he may sidestep an engagement in the Royal & SunAlliance Chase. Gallagher remarked: 'We need to put a bit more work in on his jumping, when he gets in tight he`s not entirely sure what to do. But if you can jump round at Haydock, you can jump round anywhere!' Trainer Paul Webber added: 'He should have been called Jolly Green Gentle Giant as he`s a pleasure to train. 'Something like the Cathcart or the Mildmay Of Flete might be better than taking on Bacchanal and I think a faster gallop willhelp his jumping.' Dorking trainer Terry Casey continues to battle cancer but he will have received a welcome tonic when Eltigri took the Mere House Handicap Chase. The 10-1 chance got the best of a stirring three-way battle to beat Cheerful Aspect by a length with the 6-4 favourite Moral Support, who was niggled along throughout, a further half-length back in third. Casey faces another operation next week but is said to be in good spirits and hopes of a recovery are high. Eltigri holds an entry in the Martell Grand National at Aintree, a race Casey won with Rough Quest in 1996. Jim Culloty was the jockey to follow and he completed a 186-1 double when Wain Mountain took the Ladbroke Casinos Handicap Hurdle (Qualifier). The Jim Old-trained 10-1 chance outfought favourite Freetown to win by three lengths with the unlucky-in-running Better Think Again back in third. Old`s assistant Robin Steele-Mortimer said: 'He`s a big horse who seemsto be getting it all together - he has handled the ground very well. 'Provided everything is OK for him, he will probably go for the final of this event at Cheltenham.' Culloty had kick-started his brace when My Good Son sprung a 16-1 surprise in the First Time Handicap Hurdle after another driving finish. The Steve Brookshaw-trained gelding had to pull out all he stops to hold off Knockdoo on the run-in and score by one and a quarter lengths. Brookshaw said: 'He had a wind operation over the summer but he still made a noise today so it`s hard to say whether it worked. 'He seems to be getting bigger and stronger and he pulled out all the stops.' Gunner Welburn is another who looks Festival-bound after winning the closing Walrus Hunters` Chase. Provided the going remains on the soft side, a tilt at the Christie`s Foxhunter Chase will be on the agenda. But 21-year-old rider Rowan Cope tested out the hearts of a few favourite-backers when easing the 5-4 shot up prematurely, allowing runner-up Ardstown to close to within a flattering two and a half lengths. Gallion`s Reach benefited from a fine ride by Jamie Goldstein to take the Haydock Park Sponsorship Club Novices` Handicap Hurdle. The 11-2 chance drew alongside long-time leader Suntas at the final flight only to dive at it and forfeit valuable ground. But picked up again by Goldstein, the Nigel Twiston-Davies trained six-year-old rallied on the flat to score by three-quarters of a length. Winning connections were represented by former jockey Michael Scudamore, father of Twiston-Davies` assistant Peter. 'He`s always been a lovely horse but Jamie says he`s just started to come to himself,' Scudamore said. 'I`ve ridden him at home myself and he definitely has ability.'
