Ravenhill provides Codd with Festival winner number ten

Jamie Codd did not disappoint his legion of backers with a well-timed ride aboard 12/1 shot Ravenhill in the concluding race on day one of The Festival, the £120,000 G2 National Hunt Chase.
 
A first success of the week for Codd and trainer Gordon Elliott, Ravenhill displayed a tremendous attitude to see off long-time leader Lord Du Mesnil, with a two and a quarter-length win in the three miles and six furlong event.

Ravenhill had started his career by winning a six-year-old maiden at Loughbrickland for George Stewart.
 
This was Codd's 10th winner overall at The Festival and a third winner in the National Hunt Chase following on from Le Breuil in 2019 and Cause Of Causes in 2015.
 
Discussing the victory, Codd said: "We really liked this horse. He was fifth in a Galway Plate and second in a Kerry National and he sneaked into this race as a second-season novice.
 
"Gordon Elliott is a genius. He was originally going to run in the Kim Muir, but Gordon decided he wanted to go for this race. I told him to decide and wherever he went, he was going to be a great ride.
 
"I think his experience in his career really helped. Cause Of Causes finished second in a Kim Muir the year before he won this race.
 
"It's just a pleasure to be a part of this."

Gordon Elliott was quick to praise the ride Codd had given his charge, as he said: "Jamie gave him a great ride, and just hunted away giving the horse time. He travelled brilliantly. Jamie is a star and I'm very lucky to have him riding for me.
 
"The Irish National closes tomorrow, so we'll enter Ravenhill for that and he'll go straight there.