It's Tristan Durrell's day as young rider enjoys high-profile double including Lanzarote on 33-1 Jay Jay Reilly

Tristan Durrell enjoyed by far his biggest day in the saddle, partnering a first double and winning the £100,000 Coral Lanzarote Handicap Hurdle aboard 33-1 shot Jay Jay Reilly.

A mainstay of the Dan Skelton yard for the past six years, Durrell's career has been something of a slow burn to this point but, with stable jockey Harry Skelton riding at Warwick, it sparked into life as Flegmatik took the 3m handicap chase before Jay Jay Reilly came clear in the Lanzarote.

"It's unbelievable and the best day of my career," said the 22-year-old. "To ride my first double and win the Lanzarote on a big day like this, I'm just very grateful to Dan, Harry and the owners for putting their trust in me."

With the trainer on holiday in Barbados, last year's winning Lanzarote rider Bridget Andrews represented the Skelton stable and Durrell revealed she played a big part in the win.

He added: "On the way here I said to Bridget, 'You need to tell me how to win a Lanzarote.' She told me not to be too far away from the start and to stay out of trouble and it couldn't have worked out any better."

With two winners at both Wetherby and Warwick, the Skelton yard enjoyed a Saturday to remember with an across-the-cards six-timer.

'He was bought to win a Gold Cup'

Kalif Du Berlais, the horse bought to end owner John Hales's wait for a Cheltenham Gold Cup win, made a faultless British debut in the 2m juvenile hurdle.

Kalif Du Berlais was a comprehensive winner of his only start at Compiegne, attracting plenty of interest as a result, with Hales managing to secure the purchase through bloodstock agent Anthony Bromley.

Now owned in partnership by Hales, Sir Alex Ferguson, Ged Mason and Fred Done, Kalif Du Berlais towered above his rivals in the paddock and never saw another runner on the track as he made all under Harry Cobden to win by seven and a half lengths. 

Kalif Du Berlais: impressed in the 2m juvenile hurdle at KemptonCredit: Mark Cranham

"John wants to win a Gold Cup one day and that's why he was bought," said winning trainer Paul Nicholls. "Everyone knew about the horse and no-one seemed to be able to buy him but thankfully John did.

"He's a beautiful horse for the future and very much a chaser. He's never looked back from the minute he walked into the yard and he's gorgeous. We need to look after him and we will."

As a result, Nicholls said the JCB Triumph Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in March was an unlikely target this year. "He's not a Triumph horse," the trainer added. "I've run Clan Des Obeaux and Frodon in the Triumph. They always finish in the middle of the pack and end up superstar chasers, so I don't see the point of running him. All options are open but I don't see him as a Triumph horse."

A delighted Hales added: "The Gold Cup is the one race I haven't won. This horse is beautiful. A big thank you goes to Anthony Bromley."

Special edition

Charlie Longsdon felt it was unlikely his stable star Rare Edition would head to the Betfair Hurdle next month after victory in the 2m handicap hurdle. 

The seven-year-old took his owners in the Pay The Bill Syndicate to the Cheltenham and Aintree festivals last year and Longsdon is keen to step up in trip next time. 

"He's a good horse and we needed him to win today," he said. "He wants an extra half a mile and long term he wants an extra mile. I'll discuss it with the owners but he might be flat out in the Betfair Hurdle."

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