Grands Crus makes fine start to jumps career as Cue Card hopes end in ditch

GRANDS Crus made a winning debut over fences in the Steel Plate And Sections Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham yesterday, in which Cue Card was a casualty. In a race that has been won by the likes of Denman, Imperial Commander and Time For Rupert in recent years, it once again attracted a potentially high-class field.

Cue Card was still going well for Joe Tizzard when he unseated the rider at the ditch, which robbed the race of some of its lustre. Grands Crus (6-4 favourite) then pulled himself to the front after his rival’s departure. And although he hit the open ditch at the top of the hill quite hard, Tom Scudamore’s mount was soon back on the bridle. After seeing off runner-up Champion Court, his jockey gave him a breather turning into the straight, giving his rivals another sniff of a chance, but he soon quickened clear again to win by ten lengths.

Pipe said: “It was a relief to get the first one out the way. It was disappointing for racegoers with Cue Card exiting, but it was not all about winning, it was about getting some experience under our belt. The race wasn’t run to suit, but he did everything that was asked of him.

“If he’s nearly as good over fences as he was over hurdles, we’re in for a lot of fun. He will probably have another two or three runs [before the Cheltenham Festival] but we’ll see.”

Scudamore added: “He was very impressive and really settled well once I got him in behind. I was always comfortable. Those battles with Big Buck’s have made him battle-hardened. He jumped superbly. I know he made a mistake at the ditch, but any novice can do that. He jumped the last better than any other and it was a great thrill.

“I’ll leave it up to David to choose his next race but he’s got course experience now.

“The dream still continues and we want to be back here in March. He’ll be scaring away plenty of novices, that’s for sure.”

Nicky Henderson took the paddypower.com On Mobile Handicap Chase for the third year in a row, this time through the Barry Geraghty-ridden Tanks For That. Uncle Junior (9-2) prevented what would have undoubtedly been the most popular result of the day by beating Garde Champetre in the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase. Garde Champetre was looking for his sixth victory over the course and went off the 10-11 favourite but lost vital ground when slipping entering the home straight. He managed to recover, but Uncle Junior, a newcomer to the niche discipline for Willie Mullins, won by two and a quarter lengths. Decoy narrowly held on from Semi Colon in a thrilling finish to the cheltenhamcollection.co.uk Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle.