Nicholls eyes Boxing Day at Kempton after Al Ferof enjoys golden moment

The John Hales-owned grey was stepping up in distance after a novice campaign that petered out slightly during the spring, and he was sent off at 8-1 to give champion trainer Paul Nicholls his first win in the big Cheltenham handicap.

But he was always travelling like a class act for Ruby Walsh and after being joined by Walkon two out, he stamped his class on proceedings and beat the Alan King runner by three lengths.

Nicholls said: “He must be a good horse. He came in late because he cut himself in the field, but he had a gallop at Wincanton last weekend and went really well.

“The second-season chasers of ours like him are improving, I don’t think the horses were right last year.

“We’ll have to think about Kempton I suppose, he stayed well there and I think we’ll have to look at it.”

Walsh said: “You need a bit of class in this race, which is why we were keen to take a chance. In fairness to him we were forcing him at two (miles). Stepping up in trip is probably what we should be doing.”

Hales said: “That was a stunning performance, as good as from any horse I have owned. The rain concerned me, but I thought it was an outstanding run.

“I think we have decided we will go to the King George now, and he is a horse that we are going to have to look after.”

A step up in class also beckons for Olofi after he went one better than last year in the Racing Post Hurdle.

Tom George’s grey fought off Cash And Go and Cause Of Causes, with Bothy running another good race for Norton trainer Brian Ellison in fourth.

George said: “He had no luck last year, but it’s all come right for him today. He’s a very, very talented horse and could still be improving.

“He was only beaten four lengths by Zarkandar last year (Betfair Hurdle, Newbury) and everything that could have gone wrong, did go wrong. It’s credit to my staff for getting him back to win a race like this.

“Last year you could have run him in the Champion Hurdle and he’d go with anything until the second-last.

“It’s a long shout to go for the Champion, but he’s obviously improving and you’d hope he’d go on again.”

Cash And Go ran admirably on his first start for Nicky Henderson, who pulled out ante-post favourite Darlan, as well as budding superstar Sprinter Sacre from the Shloer Chase won by Wishfull Thinking, on account of the testing conditions.

But the Seven Barrows handler still found himself in the winner’s enclosure courtesy of Captain Conan, who made the best possible start to his fencing career in the Grade Two Racing Post Arkle Trophy Trial Novices’ Chase.

The 11-10 favourite jumped smoothly from the outset for Barry Geraghty, but found Sire De Grugy a willing foe. There was little in it as the pair jumped the last in unison, but Captain Conan’s bigger engine gave him a two-length advantage at the line.

“It’s hard work in this ground, but I wouldn’t be too worried about him in it,” said Henderson. “I think he’s a two-miler – he’s got a lot of speed. It was a very pleasing start and I’m delighted.

“I don’t think he touched a twig but I would have been disappointed if he had. I looked after him last season and we didn’t take him to Cheltenham (in March) because this is what we had been waiting for. We’ve got Simonsig to come and those are the two (Arkle horses).”

Over at Punchestown, Hurricane Fly successfully started on a path that trainer Willie Mullins hopes will lead to him regaining his Champion Hurdle crown. The 2011 Cheltenham winner was being pressed by Go Native when that rival departed at the final flight of the Morgiana Hurdle, allowing Hurricane Fly to cruise across the line 12 lengths clear of Captain Cee Bee.

“It looked like there was going to be no pace and we felt we would have to make it,” said Mullins.

“We weren’t worried about the trip or ground. All we were really worried about was facing two rivals who were race-fit. As he gets older he seems to settle better and hopefully he’ll improve from that.

“He’s certainly a different horse to last year. I was not happy with him last season.

“We’ll look at Leopardstown at Christmas now and the plan will be that, the Irish Champion and Cheltenham as the races are well spread out. He’ll be entered up in everything.”

Twinlight (9-1) put up a game display when making virtually all of the running in the AGK Displays Craddockstown Novice Chase.

This Grade Two heat was reduced to a match between the winner and Baily Green after the 8-15 favourite Oscars Well fell at the second fence and the other runner, Jenari, was soon detached. An untidy jump at the last appeared to let in Baily Green, but Twinlight rallied in determined fashion to end the latter’s seven-race winning streak and complete his own hat-trick.