Plein sailing for Pouvoir

Last updated: 14th December 2012   Subscribe to RSS Feed

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Plein Pouvoir Cheltenham

Spectacular leap from Plein Pouvoir on his way to Cheltenham victory

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Plein Pouvoir relished the testing conditions at Cheltenham to prevail in the Caspian Caviar Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Chase on Friday.

Venetia Williams' nine year old collared long-time leader Red Rouble approaching the final fence and was pushed out by Harry Challoner for a three-and-three-quarter length success.

Tom Bellamy tried to make all on Nigel Twiston-Davies' Red Rouble and he had most of the field beaten turning for home, with only the eventual winner hanging on to his coat-tails.

Red Rouble stuck to his task gamely once headed but he couldn't quite match Plein Pouvoir's efforts in the closing stages.

The Big Freeze stayed on for third under Michael Byrne.

Williams said: "He's the biggest horse I've ever had to put a saddle on - he's 18 hands.

"He has appreciated the cut in the ground and essentially he's a three-miler taking on a stiff two miles and five.

"You'd love to see him run in the National, but I think that's something I will have to persuade the owner about first."