National on agenda after game Cogry victory

Cogry has had his ups and downs at Cheltenham, including a fall which ended the promising young career of jockey Ryan Hatch, but he is a much more straightforward character these days, as demonstrated when gamely battling to win the Grade 3 CF Robert 25 Years Of Sponsorship Handicap Chase, his third victory at the course.

Under the drive of Sam Twiston-Davies, the nine-year-old outbattled Singlefarmpayment and Rolling Dylan to win by a head and a neck in a stirring finish, the second part of a 39-1 double on the card for the jockey and his trainer dad Nigel after the earlier win of Al Dancer.

Twiston-Davies snr said: “He’s a very game little horse and he runs his heart out every time. Maybe he can have an entry for the Grand National now? He stays, he jumps beautifully. Failing that, it’ll be back to the Scottish National.