Calgary impressive on debut

The Henrietta Knight-trained Calgary Bay made a big impression at Cheltenham on Thursday when he landed the Dipper Novices' Chase under Tony McCoy.

The giant six-year-old was making his debut over fences after showing promise over hurdles last season, and jumped well bar a mistake at the fourth last that nearly got rid of the champion.

However, the son of Taipan was soon back in contention and galloped away from the favourite Kicks For Free after a fine leap at the last, winning by two and threequarter lengths.

"He's massive and like Best Mate came to us from Tom Costello," said the trainer. "We've always liked, him, from the time we saw him loose school in Ireland, and when he jumps he nearly lands too far out over the other side, but he's a fast jumper and very keen to get on with it.

"He'll probably go for the Scilly Isles Chase at Sandown and as he's closely related to Grey Abbey and The Grey Monk, three miles shouldn't be a problem.

"That mistake at the top of the hill will probably do him some good."

Jumped like a bunny

Rambling Minster gave Keith Reveley his first winner at the course when landing the Cheltenham Annual Pony Club Raceday Handicap Chase under the trainer's son James.

The 13-2 winner was just behind Alexanderthegreat and Character Building jumping the last, but stayed on strongly up the final hill to beat the former by a length and three-quarters.

"He jumped like a bunny, apart from one mistake, and he stormed up the hill to give James his first winner over fences at the course," Reveley said.

"He'd been unlucky here on two previous occasions and showed again that he does run the track well. It's great to have my first Cheltenham winner."

Stan put a couple of below-par runs behind him to land the valuable skybet.com Chase Handicap under a polished ride from Aidan Coleman.

The 14/1 shot hit the front turning into the straight and bounded clear on the run-in to beat Fier Normand by 11 lengths with 9-2 joint-favourite Hold Em in third.

Trainer Venetia Williams said: "We are seeing the best of him at the ripe old age of 10.

"He showed stamina over two miles five today and I think he might well get three miles round here, which gives us extra options when he comes back to the Festival in March."

Tussle

Big Buck's entered the picture for the World Hurdle after outstaying Don't Push It in the Unicoin Homes Handicap Hurdle.

The pair were engaged in an exciting tussle from the bottom of the hill, but Ruby Walsh and Big Buck's (9-2) were always going the better.

And the six-year-old showed the better turn of foot from the final flight to carry Andy Stewart's

"I think he's got a lot of ability and told Andy it might be the wrong thing to go for the Gold Cup this year," said trainer Paul Nicholls.

"In order to go for the Stayers' (World Hurdle) he needed to win today, but he's done that well and my intention would be to come back for the Cleeve Hurdle at the end of the month.

"He was one horse I thought the switch to hurdles would do the world of good to."