Vaucelet impresses in victory

Vaucelet looked a smart young hunter chaser to follow when taking the Frank & Teresa O'Reilly Memorial Hunters Chase at Fairyhouse.

Jamie Codd always had matters in hand, stalking the front two before producing the seven-year-old before the second last.

From there, it was always just a case of when the jockey decided to press on. To the credit of second placed Aloneamongmillions he didn't go down without a fight, even surviving a bad mistake at the final flight.

Trainer David Christie, who was desperately unlucky not to win the Foxhunter Chase at Cheltenham last month, can dream about a future tilt at that race with this exciting young talent.

“That was lovely, I was hoping he would do that,” said Christie.

“I was so close to taking him to Aintree but I thought we'd just wait. He was second reserve for Winged Leader for Cheltenham as well but he's only seven.

“He's a very babyish horse in his head so we thought we'd just sit that out this year.

“Jamie said there that he's a Foxhunter horse for Cheltenham and Aintree next year.

“I couldn't have been happier coming down when I saw the sun and the wind. I walked the track and thought it was closer to good, but it's beautiful ground.

“He just floats on that ground and he needs the big track to bring out the best in him, jumping big fences.

“He's a proper staying horse as he only gets going at two-and-a-half miles. He's lazy up to that stage which will stand him in good stead in the future.

“It's a lovely race to win, Maple Mons was my last winner in it.”