Top tipsters prove bang on as Aura strikes in novice handicap chase for Bailey

Imperial Aura, a horse Racing Post tipsters had been in love with, delivered when winning the novice handicap chase, which led to a huge smile stretching across the face of local trainer Kim Bailey.

Spotlight's Steven Boow, Tom Segal of Pricewise fame, Richard Austen and Paul Kealy sided with the promising seven-year-old, who – like his trainer – had clearly read the script.

"Winning here never gets tiring and that's a huge relief because the anticipation has been high as you can imagine," said Bailey, who memorably won the Champion Hurdle and Cheltenham Gold Cup with Alderbrook and Master Oats in 1995.

"I'm not stupid and read the papers to see he's been tipped, but we felt all along this was his race and he's done it."

He did it in the black and white Imperial Racing silks made famous by 2010 Gold Cup hero Imperial Commander.

Bailey was winning his fifth festival race and had long had this particular event in mind for the son of Kalanisi, who was a 1-25 winner at Fakenham in November before creditable Cheltenham seconds that left him spot on for the £70,000 prize.

Ridden by David Bass, the 4-1 winner pulled clear from the equally fancied Galvin for a sweet victory for Bailey, who had to steady his emotion with a tear creeping into his eye.

"It's why we do it," he added. "It's a struggle in life anyway and this is what you come here for. The owners said beforehand Cheltenham was the best and to have a winner is the best as well."

'I feel incredibly lucky'

The victory clearly meant lots to Bass, who was enjoying his third festival victory.

"It means everything," he explained. "I've been lucky and come here to ride good horses and I know how hard it is to ride winners. My strike-rate here outside the festival is poor, but you just have to keep trying and come back.

"I feel incredibly lucky I'm able to ride horses like him. I've ridden three winners here now and there are far better jockeys than me who have ridden none."

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