'I didn't know if he'd be man enough for it, but he was' - Lucinda Russell does it again as Myretown lands a big gamble

Punters enjoyed a big payday as Lucinda Russell maintained her stranglehold on the Ultima Handicap Chase with heavily backed favourite Myretown.

Her chaser was backed from a morning 12-1 into 13-2 market leader at the off for a contest the trainer won with Corach Rambler in 2022 and 2023.

That future Grand National winner was ridden on both occasions by Derek Fox, who chose Whistle Stop Tour this time. That handed the opportunity to 2023-24 champion conditional jockey Patrick Wadge, who took full advantage.

The trainer admitted afterwards that she would rather have run the winner in a novice handicap at Uttoxeter. But the eight-year-old, whose two previous chase wins had come in a three-runner and four-runner race, rose to the challenger of taking on 23 experienced handicappers in magnificent fashion.

Wadge made just about all the running on the market leader, who was running in only his fifth chase but jumped well throughout. He judged things perfectly over the 3m1f trip, having left enough in reserve to pull clear from the final fence for an 11-length victory.

It was Wadge's first Cheltenham Festival success and a fourth in total for Russell. Whistle Stop Tour was badly hampered by the fall of Guard Your Dreams at the first fence and was eventually pulled up.

What the winning trainer said

Lucinda Russell celebrates Myretown's Ultima winCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.con/photos)

Lucinda Russell: "I wasn't that keen about running him and it was Bruce Wymer, the part-owner, said to me 'come on, let's take it on'. If he jumped round he was phenomenally well handicapped, I just didn't know if he was going to be man enough for it but it looks like he is."

What the winning rider said

Patrick Wadge: made all on MyretownCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

Patrick Wadge: "He was brilliant. His jumping hasn't been the best through his career but he had a soft lead everywhere, I just let him wing fences, he made one little mistake down the back. Thanks to everyone back home, it's a dream come true. Just to sit on a horse like this is amazing. He's a brilliant wee horse."

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