Cheltenham Festival: Changing fortunes as David Bass bounces back with victory

Willoughby Court ridden by David Bass pulls away from the last flight before going on to win the Neptune Investment Hurdle.

Disconsolate when his mount Charbel knuckled on landing at the penultimate fence when clear in the Arkle Trophy, Willoughby Court’s heartstopping victory in the Grade One Neptune Investment Hurdle provided quick compensation.

Like he did 24 hours earlier on the luckless Charbel who had subsequent winner Altior under pressure when coming to grief, Bass, 28, set out to make all on the Ben Pauling-trained hurdler.

Clear at the last when favourite Neon Wolf erred, the only semblance of a mistake that the latter’s rider Noel Fehily has made all week, the two protagonists came close together on the run-in as Willoughby Court’s exacting pace took its toll. However, the dual Warwick winner got the verdict in a photo finish to the obvious relief of Bass who was providing Cotswolds trainer Ben Pauling with his first Festival winner. “Come on!” shouted out the jockey in elation as the result was announced. What a contrast with the previous day when he threw his whip into the ground in frustration after Charbel came to grief.

“Yesterday was a massive disappointment but today was brilliant. It all went to plan, he was tough on the run-in, he stays very well and it worked out,” added the jockey, one of the most under-estimated members of the weighing room.

“I feared his stamina might not come into play, so I rode him positively and he really got into a lovely rhythm. We respected Neon Wolf, and when Noel got to me turning in, I thought it would be a close-run thing. He [Willoughby Court] is a three-mile chaser in the making and I think he’s got a big future over fences.

“I went home last night and watched the replay of Charbel quite a few times and it hurt – we’ll never know what will happen. I woke up today and said ‘right, you’ve got some good rides today, so focus on that’. Ben is a really good young trainer, very ambitious and with good staff. It will mean a lot to him.”

Like The Last Samuri who was second in last year’s Grand National under Bass, Willoughby Court runs in the colours of owners Paul and Clare Rooney.

Meanwhile, Pauling was quick to praise his team. “It is fantastic, even down to Greg Walters who rides Willoughby Court every day because he is not an easy horse,” he said. “I suppose Bassy did an all right job as well!”