Uberalles battles to Champion glory

Flagship Uberalles showed guts and determination above and beyond the call of duty when answering every urging of Richard Johnson to land the Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham today.

The gelding, a well supported 7-4f, had to use every reserve of energy to battle through unsuitable ground to emulate his half-brother, Viking Flagship, winner of the two mile contest in 1994 and `95.

Edredon Bleu lead from flag fall but started to feel the pace from five out and weakened. Latalomne was left to battle with Cenkos (66-1) for the lead.

Approaching the second last it was Latalomne who travelled well in the lead with Timmy Murphy starting to niggle on Cenkos and Johnson hard at work on Flagship Uberalles.

But the leader failed to rise at the penultimate fence and jockey Vinny Keane`s hopes of Cheltenham success were cruely dashed.

Cenkos was left in the lead and looked the likely winner as they turned for home. But he started to tread water in front and going to thelast Flagship Uberalles threw down his challenge.

The hill sorted them out and an emotional and exhausted Johnson celebrated as he passed the post three lengths in front.

Irish raider Native Upmanship (9-1) stayed on well from the turn and just got up close home to deny the brave Cenkos by half-a-length for second. The other Irish runner Knife Edge could never get into contention.

A thrilled Johnson told Channel 4 Racing: 'For the whole race I thought I was beat! He never travelled and found it very, very hard.

'The ground is so tacky he never really travelled but he was so brave.'

And Hobbs added: 'At Sandown when he won there he was off the bridle until the Pond Fence but when he missed the third last as well that was a worry.

'He does stay very, very well.'

Latalomne`s jockey, conditional rider Vinnie Keane, was bitterly disappointed.

He said: 'I think he would have won.'

There was a sting in the tail for Johnson, however, who got a four-day whip ban for excessive frequency.