Doitforthevillage does it at Cheltenham

Doitforthevillage ran on strongly up the hill to give trainer Paul Henderson a second successive win in the BetVictor Handicap Chase at Cheltenham.

While 12 months ago Un Beau Roman was successful, he was unplaced this time behind his stablemate who took over at the second-last for Paddy Brennan.

Exitas was chasing a hat-trick going into the race and moved menacingly into contention, but the 3-1 favourite had challengers on either side.

Kapstadt briefly looked a threat to give the in-form Ian Williams another good winner, but he had no answer to Doitforthevillage (13-2) who pulled two lengths clear.

Henderson said: "Everyone kept saying who do you think will win? The other horse had been and done it and this horse was open to improvement.

"Paddy said when he ran here last time it was just too quick and he couldn't cope jumping-wise, but today was just right.

"Paddy always said there'd be a nice race in this horse, he's a good strong horse and last year he won five for us, he just needs the right ground.

"We bought him as a three-mile chaser, but clearly he's a two-miler. He might get two and a half, but clearly he's all speed."

Kingswell Theatre gave Tom Scudamore a great spin when winning the Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Chase. Trained by his brother, Michael, the eight-year-old made most of the running and was clearly enjoying the change of scenery, although he looked a sitting duck as the field came back on to the racecourse proper with two Emmanuel Clayeux-trained runners chasing him. Urgent De Gregaine, a winner at the track in January and second in the Velka Pardubicka, and stablemate Vicomte Du Seuil loomed large but Kingswell Theatre was not to be denied. As the 14-1 winner crossed the line three-quarters of a length clear of Vicomte Du Seuil, his rider saluted the crowd and said: "To win it for my brother and the owners, who are my sponsors, is great. "I don't normally ride in these races as I don't really like them, but I enjoyed that!" Michael Scudamore said: "It's one of those bizarre races, it's something different "He took to it at the Festival and he'd been going well at home, but things haven't been going so well of late so that's great." Scudamore went on: "He'll probably come back here for the race in December and he could creep into the National, which would be the dream." Nicky Henderson's On The Blind Side stayed on powerfully to win the Ballymore Novices' Hurdle. Coming down the hill he looked like being a poor third at best as Poetic Rhythm and Momella surged clear rounding the home turn. Even approaching the last the finish seemed certain to involve those two, but On The Blind Side (9-2) and Nico de Boinville powered past, eventually winning by two and a half lengths to remain unbeaten. Momella got the verdict for second Henderson said: "I'll be disappointed if we are not back here in a year's time for one of the novice chases, because that's what it's all about. "It looks like he wants three miles, but he's quite a baby. He went up hills better than he came down them. "He's won a point-to-point and two hurdles, but he's still a baby. He's quickened up really well in the end. He won't be running in handicaps. "If you were to say anything (in March) it would be the Albert Bartlett, but that's a long way off." The winner was given a 16-1 quote for that race by Betfair.