Perseus Way cut to 14-1 for Cheltenham Festival target after feature win

Friday: Huntingdon

Perseus Way got another wheel back on Gary Moore's Cheltenham bandwagon when running out a very impressive winner of the feature Weatherbys Chatteris Fen Juvenile Hurdle.

Rather than bolster Moore's strong hand in the Triumph Hurdle, the 10-11 chance could head the way of the Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle at the festival after putting Samuel Spade to the sword under Jamie Moore.

Gary Moore was winning the £25,000 feature for the third time in a decade and there were local Flat connections close to the win as Sir Michael Stoute's assistant James Savage flanked successful owner Oliver Harris in the aftermath.

Perseus Way was cut to 14-1 (from 20) by Paddy Power for his intended Cheltenham target. Moore said: "He ran well at Chepstow last time where it may have been a bit soft for him. He's a nice horse but I think what was the Fred Winter is the race for him.

"We've had a few wheels fall off recently so it's nice for him to win like that. Fair play to Oliver, I said to take his horse out of the previous race [Inneston, due to the ground] and he agreed, so it's nice that Perseus Way has done the business."

First Wadham double 'in living memory'

The conditional jockeys' walk to the parade ring before the openerCredit: Edward Whitaker

Lucy Wadham completed her first double "in living memory" when bookending the card, which kicked off when Pearly Island landed the opening conditional jockeys' handicap hurdle under her new jockey Eddie Edge.

Edge joined the Wadham ranks in Newmarket in September and is a great asset according to his new boss.

The brace was completed when stablemate Taras Halls landed the closing 'newcomers' bumper under Bryony Frost.

Wadham said: "We've been a bit quiet of late but we're not now. This must be our first double in living memory."

Longsdon 700 up

Western Zephyr claimed the 2m novice hurdleCredit: Edward Whitaker

Charlie Longsdon reckoned he had reached 700 winners worldwide after Western Zephyr took advantage of a notable absentee to land the 2m novice hurdle.

From a 9-4 chance in the morning, the topweight was sent off at 30-100 after the morning favourite Inneston came out just 20 minutes before flagfall.

Longsdon said: "I reckon that is 700 winners worldwide for us including France, Ireland and Jersey and on the Flat. The race may have been a different proposition with Inneston in it but Western Zephyr is improving."

Mares' Novice hope

Kateira ran out a dominant winnerCredit: Edward Whitaker

Kateira was cut to 20-1 (from 33) by Paddy Power for the Mares' Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham after taking her record to three wins from four in the 2m4½f mares' novice.

The daughter of Kayf Tara was a timely winner before a busy weekend for Dan and Harry Skelton when justifying odds of 8-15 in some style.

Kateira could well be on a return ticket to the Cambridgeshire track next month for the Sidney Banks Novices' Hurdle where she would be taking on the boys for the first time.

Tom Messenger, assistant to Dan Skelton, said: "Most of our string have had flu jabs and this is our first important runner since. Kateira is a very progressive type and the plan beyond this is to come back here for the Sidney Banks just as we did with Elle Est Belle."

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