Grands cruises to Feltham

Grands Crus: Impressive winner of the Feltham at Kempton

Grands Crus was an easy winner of the Grade One williamhill.com Feltham Novices' Chase (In Memory Of Nigel Clark) at Kempton on Boxing Day.

The good-looking grey jumped brilliantly throughout the three-mile contest and coped well with the turns racing on a right-handed circuit for the first time.

Tom Scudamore had him settled in a lovely rhythm early on towards the back of the field as Mr Moonshine and Teaforthree set a decent gallop.

The pace suited Grands Crus who travelled well within himself in behind and he glided through the field to take the lead down the back stretch on the second circuit.

Silviniaco Conti followed him through under Ruby Walsh but he was soon vigorously riding when rounding the home turn with Grands Crus doing things easily in front.

David Pipe's charge settled things in the straight with more fluent jumping as Silviniaco Conti and Bobs Worth stayed on well, but without troubling the winner who was eased down for a two-and-a-quarter length victory.

Silviniaco Conti finished second with Bobs Worth in third.

Sky Bet go 2/1 from 4/1 about Grands Crus for the RSA chase and he's 10/1 from 16s for the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Jockey Impressed

Scudamore said: "He was very good again. That was his best performance yet over fences and hopefully there's more to come as well.

"The one thing David (Pipe) said to me beforehand was whatever you do make sure you win, so I did it nice and simple.

"He was always taking me there and it was always important to keep a position. It was his jumping that took me there more than anything, he wasn't as free today.

"Kempton will be the quickest track he's run on over fences and he jumped superbly again.

"It was another top-class performance. It was his first Grade One win and it's nice to get one on the board."

Pipe said: "They went a good gallop but he got there with a lot of ease, and Gerry Supple had been on him the last couple of days to try to get him to settle as he'd been keen.

"He was very quick over his hurdles, but he respects fences and it's probably helped Tom slow him down a bit.

"He's been very good over his fences, very neat and economical. It's great for his owners, me, the yard, everyone.

"Tom has given him three super rides, just schooled him round and done what he has to do."

Pipe added: "He jumped and travelled, and will probably have one more run before Cheltenham - I'll discuss it with the owners but he'll probably have an entry in the Gold Cup as well.

"You'd be silly not to give him the Gold Cup entry but he's got plenty of time and a lot can happen between then (March) and now.

"We've seen what Big Buck's has done this year and for us to get as close to Big Buck's shows how good he is and how good Grands Crus is.

"It was good ground today and so it wasn't his favoured going and we wanted to make sure there was a stronger pace, that's why he went on as far out as he did."

Nicholls Impressed

Paul Nicholls said of Silviniaco Conti: "Ruby (Walsh) said it rode like some race and those are probably the best three staying novices around.

"I wouldn't want to be bumping into Grands Crus again soon, but it was a great run.

"It's not set in stone he'll go to Cheltenham as I've half a mind he's a horse that needs to be looked after this year, but I've not ruled it out."

Nicky Henderson said of Bobs Worth: "Barry (Geraghty) said they were going quick enough round there but he was happy with him.

"He was a bit thick in his wind and was jumping left-handed, so he might want to go the other way round. He stays three miles though."