Change of luck for Cheltenham regular and serial second Gowel Road in Cleeve Hurdle puts him in Stayers' picture

Every meeting at Cheltenham this season has featured Gowel Road, but he turned around a string of seconds with a tough victory in the Betfair Cleeve Hurdle for Nigel and Sam Twiston-Davies.

The nine-year-old was beaten in handicaps at the October, November and December meetings and went closest to a breakthrough when less than a length behind Lucky Place on New Year’s Day. Yet it all changed in a race named after nearby landmark Cleeve Hill for a family of high standing in the local racing scene.

The well-supported 5-2 joint-favourite was positioned up front by Sam Twiston-Davies and took turns nudging into the lead with the Caoilin Quinn-ridden Botox Has. The two oldest runners controlled proceedings, and their advantage over the remainder grew to a couple of lengths when Crambo made a race-ending mistake at the eighth.

The legs of last month’s Long Walk winner hardly left the ground as he ploughed through the obstacle and almost toppled Johnny Burke off. He lost his place, which ultimately meant Nigel Twiston-Davies’s long-time assistant Fergal O’Brien would not be conquering the master of Naunton this time. The following race told a different story.

As Crambo faded, the only other Grade 1 winner from last season also began to struggle, with Sean Bowen pushing along Strong Leader. Only Monmiral, last season’s Pertemps Final winner, began to make ground, and it was between the trio turning in.

Gowel Road clears away from Botox Has at the final hurdleCredit: John Grossick Racing

Botox Has was the first to fade as riders came off the bridle, and Twiston-Davies flicked his charge over the final hurdle, after which Harry Cobden and Monmiral put up a bold fight in the straight. A game response from Gowel Road secured a two-and-a-quarter-length success.

“He really deserved it," said the winning jockey. “He’s bumped into some well-handicapped ones, and then found a good one [in Lucky Place] in a Graded race on New Year’s Day. The way the weights worked out, you hoped he could go and do it, and consistency is what he’s about. It’s got him home in front there.”

Gowel Road was cut to 16-1 (from 25s) for the Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle with the sponsors, and that was pinpointed as his next target.

“He’s been giving a lot of weight away to good horses in handicaps this season, and he was beaten by The Wallpark, who went on to run in the Long Walk. He’s been a very consistent horse but a good one too,” said Willy Twiston-Davies, assistant to father Nigel.

"We’ve had some niggles with him in the past, but this season we’ve had a clear run with him and he’s gone well. This was a good race for the horse and he deserves that.

"He has to go for the Stayers' now, it’s as simple as that. It’s a wide-open division, but he deserves his chance in it. He’s a genuine and honest horse and is a pleasure to have around.”

Gowel Road jumps the last in front and finds too much for Monmiral (left)Credit: John Grossick Racing

Monmiral could take him on at the Cheltenham Festival, with Paul Nicholls unsure whether to try to defend the Pertemps Final or go for the Grade 1.

Nicholls said: “He ran really well. He’ll come back here for the Pertemps or the Stayers' and we'll see what happens. We’re in no man's land a little bit as he’d carry 12st in the handicap or run in a Grade 1. I think we’d probably end up in the Stayers', but we’ll go where we think we can win.”

The horse who gave part-owner Sir Alex Ferguson a first taste of Cheltenham Festival success could also have options abroad, with the French Champion Hurdle at Auteuil on May 17 under consideration.

“I could be tempted to take him to the French Champion Hurdle at Auteuil, which we won with Ptit Zig [in 2016],” added Nicholls. “Aintree is a bit too fast and tight for him, so we could go there. That race could really suit him.”

'Galopin Des Champs is a champion but you don’t worry about one horse' - L'Homme Presse tees up Gold Cup bid

'I wouldn't swap East India Dock in the Triumph' - James Owen confident about Cheltenham chances after dominant trial win