The Rose Loxton-trained Caid Du Berlais took the Star Best Racing Champion Hunters chase for the second year in succession for owners Donlon, Doyle, MacDonald and Barber,
Bouncing back from a below par effort at Cheltenham, the 10-year-old jumped his way into the lead in the early stages before setting an end to end gallop under Will Biddick.
Having jumped from fence to fence, the Westerner gelding showed no signs of stopping in the closing stages to record a facile 28-length success.
Having jumped from fence to fence, the Westerner gelding showed no signs of stopping in the closing stages to record a facile 28-length success.
Burning Ambition finished weary back in second, while Fenno’s Storm came home late in the day to finish third under Declan Queally.
Stand Up And Fight looked to be running a huge race three-out before tiring quickly and pulling up, while It Came To Pass looked to be set for a place when unseating at the penultimate obstacle.
Stand Up And Fight looked to be running a huge race three-out before tiring quickly and pulling up, while It Came To Pass looked to be set for a place when unseating at the penultimate obstacle.
Afterwards Biddick said: “It wasn't the plan to be in front from so early on but he's in serious order and he was just tanking. It would have been wrong to be choking his head off and I just had to let him go and get in a rhythm. He's done it well. I'm surprised they let me off so much.
"Rose hasn't been so well lately so this is for her. His prep run was a point-to-point just before Cheltenham and then he went there and we were a bit surprised how disappointing he ran.
"He might have gone to Liverpool but he just didn't feel quite right the week before. We said we'd save him and because he liked it here last year we'd come back.”
