It's in the book! Simply The Betts boosts Trials day form with victory

A punter-friendly piece of Trials day form took another notable boost as Simply The Betts secured a memorable first festival success for Harry Whittington and owners Kate and Andrew Brooks in the Brown Advisory & Merriebelle Stable Plate Handicap Chase.

Simply The Betts beat subsequent Northern Trust Company Novices’ Handicap Chase winner Imperial Aura atCheltenham at the end of January and continued his upwardly progressive profile – four wins and a second from five chase starts – with a length-and-a-quarter win over Happy Diva.

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Whittington, who earlier saddled Ryanair Chase second Saint Calvados, said: “To train my first festival winner is unbelievable. I nearly passed out and felt so faint! I’d have passed out if we’d have won the Ryanair! It’s such a big team effort and we’re all delighted.”

Simply The Betts – named after Chris Betts, a late friend of the owners – and Saint Calvados visited the nearby Cheltenham yard of leading eventer Laura Collett for a schooling session on the way to the track. It was a strategy that certainly paid off.

Whittington said: “I nearly changed the plan two days ago as I thought it would be terrible if something went amiss on the morning of the race but my assistant made sure we stuck to our guns.

“We did the same with Simply The Betts in January and it’s worked, so we’ll keep doing it.”

Simply the best: Gavin Sheehan milks the applause after victory on Simply The BettsCredit: Jonathan Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

It was a second festival victory for Gavin Sheehan, five years on from Cole Harden landed the Stayers’ Hurdle, and the rider was delighted to repay the support of the winning owners.

Sheehan said: “It’s special to ride another winner at the festival. He’s a fantastic horse, continues to get better and better over fences, and this is why I do the game, to give Kate and Andrew that buzz of a Cheltenham winner.”

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