Friday 15 December 2017 16:20, UK
Bless The Wings saw off the Enda Bolger threat to win the Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Chase for Gordon Elliott.
He may turn 13 in a few weeks and have been pulled up in his two previous races, but the winner comes to life at this unique track.
Placed in all five of his prior appearances in the Cotswolds - six if including the Fulke Walywn over regulation fences in 2015 - Davy Russell always had the 12-1 chance close to the pace, which was set by the Bolger-trained My Hometown.
Kingswell Theatre, a winner in November, briefly took over, but Russell kicked on when the field arrived on the racecourse proper and he was always holding Bolger's pair of Cantlow and Josies Orders by two and a half lengths and four.
The big disappointment was 2014 Stayers' Hurdle winner More Of That, who was pulled up.
Elliott said: "He's been placed in three Cheltenham Festivals for us and has been a great horse.
"He was disappointing on his last couple of runs and I was actually thinking of retiring him, so it just goes to show what those jumps can do to a horse.
"I'm delighted for his owners and Davy gave him a great ride."
