Veteran owner in clover as The Conditional outruns Ladbrokes Trophy odds

Young-at-heart octogenarian Peter Cave has waited a lifetime for a horse as good as The Conditional and the 80-year-old was left tickled pink after the rapidly-improving seven-year-old stormed home for second in the Ladbrokes Trophy.

By his own admission, Cave – who recalled his days riding in point-to-points when The Conditional gave him a first success at Cheltenham in October – had operated at mostly a modest level as an owner before instructing his trainer David Bridgwater to go out and find him a "Saturday horse".

Bridgwater came up trumps, sourcing The Conditional from Ireland earlier this year and plenty more Saturdays surely await after he finished a length and half runner-up to the De Rasher Counter.