Big handicaps eyed for Bigbadjohn after confidence-boosting victory

Connections of Bigbadjohn expect their talented chaser to make his presence felt in big handicaps this season following a game front-running victory in the feature Desert Orchid Silver Cup.

The nine-year-old, who won the Reynoldstown as a novice, jumped excellently in the lead and kept on well to deny the battling placed horses Ridgeway Flyer and Sumkindofking to record his second success for Nigel Twiston-Davies since his move from Rebecca Curtis.

Having failed to finish in the Topham Chase and Bet365 Gold Cup at the end of last season, and being well-beaten in a handicap at Chepstow on his first start this year, winning rider Tom Bellamy believes this victory could be a big step back towards finding his Graded-level form.