Sunday 25 February 2018 18:30, UK
Old Guard will attempt to make it third time lucky at the Cheltenham Festival after forming the highlight of a four-timer for trainer Paul Nicholls at Fontwell in the totepool National Spirit Hurdle.
Having finished down the field in the 2015 Triumph Hurdle and last year's Coral Cup, the seven-year-old will look to better those efforts after securing his spot in the Sun Bets Stayers' Hurdle with a length and a half success from Lil Rockerfeller in the Grade Two contest.
Following the race the 11-4 winner, who initiated a double for rider Harry Cobden, was cut from 33-1 to 25-1 for the Stayers' Hurdle by Paddy Power.
Nicholls said: "The more it was drying out the better as he run a really good race in the International in December. He got in a bit of trouble and Harry was steaming he didn't get any closer.
"The last day I shouldn't have run him as he hates that heavy ground. Today I just said to Harry be positive as he will gallop and stay. He will run in the Stayers' now.
"What I liked about today was that he really stayed. It's good to see him perform this season. He just likes good ground and he has been an amazing horse for these guys."
Unioniste (4-11 favourite) will join Old Guard at Prestbury Park after giving Nicholls his 100th winner of the campaign when completing his haul with a 22-length victory in the totepool Betting At totesport.com Open Hunters' Chase.
David Maxwell, winning jockey and owner, said: "He jumps like a buck. He will go to the Foxhunter now at Cheltenham. I think he is pretty much the only one I have qualified.
"He is a lovely horse. Mine are usually 40-1 or 50-1 chances at the Festival. He will be a nice each-way bet."
Copain De Claisse got the ball rolling for Nicholls after picking up the easiest victory of his career when coming home alone under Sam Twiston-Davies in the toteplacepot Josh Gifford Memorial Novices' Chase
Nicholls said of the 4-6 winner: "He is a nice horse for the spring to run through those nice novice chases.
"They have a valuable handicap at Ascot at the end of March which San Benedeto won there then went to Aintree. For a big horse he just doesn't go in the soft ground at all."
The Last But One (5-2) continued his up turn in form after providing Nicholls and Twiston-Davies with further success when claiming the totequadpot Handicap Chase by three lengths.
Nicholls said: "I'm astonished how that horse has improved as over hurdles he was very ordinary.
"We gave him a bit of time and he went to Musselburgh and he has won nicely today. He is in at Newbury on Friday and he could easily run again then."
Garth Broom, who together with his wife Anne runs Brocade Racing, had plenty to celebrate after the Colin Tizzard-trained Quiz Master (4-1) finally opened his account at the 11th time of asking when scoring by four and a half lengths in the totetrifecta Handicap Hurdle.
Broom said: "I can't remember the last time I had a bet but I did fancy him today so I had a punt.
"He has been running well without getting there. We purchased him at the Doncaster Sales as a three-year-old. He just caught our eye as he is a lovely moving horse.
"Our last four horses have all won starting with Native River, then Golden Sunrise, Bramble Brook and today. We are on a good run and hopefully it will continue."
