Supremely West gives leading owner Jimmy Fyffe a first Cheltenham Festival win in the Pertemps Final
Supremely West gave top Scottish owner Jimmy Fyffe a coveted first win at the Cheltenham Festival when justifying favouritism in the Pertemps Network Hurdle Final.
The 100-30 market leader never gave his supporters a moment's worry after being sat in mid-division off a pace set by Red Dirt Road before the fancied C'Est Different took up the running in the latter half of the race. The eight-year-old was given a patient ride by Harry Skelton, taking closer order before the home turn at which point he was one of the only ones still on the bridle.
He was ridden to lead before the last and came home strongly up the hill to register a second handicap win of the week for Dan Skelton with a convincing three-and-a-half-length success over Lavida Adiva and Ikarak.
The Skeltons kicked off their handicap haul at the festival with Madara in the Plate on Tuesday, who was also sent off favourite.
It was a first win in this contest for the trainer and jockey Harry, celebrating a 12th festival victory, said: "Tuesday seems like a long time ago because in professional sport you're never satisfied as you're always looking for the next one, and I thought Kabral Du Mathan would win [in the Stayers' Hurdle].
"Before this race, our assistant Tom Messenger was confident this one would stay and he was right. The step back up to three miles has really suited him today and Dan has trained him perfectly in not over racing him. I'm delighted for Jimmy Fyffe, who is fairly new to us in the yard and I know this will mean a lot."
The Dundee-based Fyffe is one of the most prolific owners in Britain, with only JP McManus having sent out more runners this season.
The win marked a 13th festival success for Dan Skelton, who said: "This is an idea we had after he qualified. We tried dropping him back to two and a half miles but this is his trip. I'm very proud of the horse, he had a big chance today and sometimes when the sun shines on you, you can crack under the heat but he didn't.
"I thought Harry gave him a great ride, as he did Kabral Du Mathan in the Stayers', but he didn't stay. That's our sport – you have to get up that hill."
Read more from Cheltenham day three:
'That was a relief' - Meetmebythesea gives Ben Pauling his first festival winner of the week
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