Stage Star bound for Aintree after Fine Cheltenham Run – Irvine Times

The nine-year-old managed a trip over three miles for the first time on the new course and was sent to the front by Harry Cobden.

He carried them to the head of the field before being challenged by the favorite L’Homme, who pressed two fences outside.

He was giving the fee to Venice Williams 4lb and it told on hold as he finished three quarters of a length away.

But the group’s owners’ racing manager Dan Downie was delighted with the performance of the Paul Nicholls-trained star, who showed flashes of the form that saw him win the Novice Chase and the 2023 Paddy Power Gold Cup.

Downey said: “He ran very well and was very far back in form, jumped very well and traveled very well. He ran great. He was only beaten by a very good horse, we couldn’t be happier.

“I would have thought it was (his best run since winning the Paddy Power Gold Cup). Harry came down and said it was one of the best runs he had ever had. He was delighted. It was just really good to see him back on form.

“He won’t go to Chelton, we’ll look to go to Aintree and get him fresh for that.”

Bond Broker is another owner group Nicholls prisoner in fine form and will be looking for a hat-trick at Huntingdon on Thursday.

Downie has high hopes for the six-year-old, but isn’t sure how good he can be.

He added: “He’s a tough horse to judge in terms of how much improvement there is in him. But he seems to be learning all the time, so we’re hoping for him. But at this stage, there are no long-term plans with him. “

Meanwhile, Nichols’ preparations at his ditch base were hit by heavy rain that rendered some of his facilities unusable.

Nicholls told Betfair: “Yesterday was biblical rain. Never in 33 years have I seen weather like this and the amount of rain.

“Our Hill Gallop is absolutely fine, so we can use the Hill Gallop. Our loops and flat canter are literally underwater.

“You’ve never seen water, so we haven’t been able to assess the full damage yet because we can’t go up there, but I’ve never had water on the gallops, certainly not like we saw yesterday.”

“I was out last night with Rob, my canter man and a few others and we just couldn’t believe what we were seeing.

“The damage the damage does is absolutely incredible. As I say, we still have Hill Gallop, which is not affected at all, because as it is, you don’t get water hanging around like a flood – it works on both sides of it.

“We just haven’t been able to assess the damage yet, but it’s not good, it’s just one of those things.

“There is no point in hiding behind it and saying that everything will be fine. There’s a huge amount of damage that we’re going to have to put right through the week. We can still use Hill Gallop, we can still school, but it’s not perfect. “