Clear The Clouds with connections© Photo Healy Racing
Clear The Clouds completed a double for Gavin Cromwell, as he claimed the Thanks To All Our Sponsors In The National Hunt Season Handicap Hurdle.
Placed on three of 14 of his previous starts, the six-year-old was sent off a 17/2 chance (14s early) this afternoon with Conor Stone-Walsh in the plate.
Settled in mid-division and hampered six out, the Vendangeur bay made headway from the third last but soon met with some trouble in running.
Ridden behind the leaders on the approach to the final flight, he was soon switched towards the inner and hit the front inside the final furlong, keeping on best from there to prevail by half-a-length.
The Jimmy Barcoe-trained Early Arrival (33/1) kept on well, but ultimately had to settle for second under Kieran Callaghan, while Mahler Cove (14/1 from 25s) was another three-and-a-quarter lengths back in third.
Returned at 40/1, Jake Peter was another four-lengths away in fourth, while Hillsdale (10/3 favourite) could only manage a disappointing fourteenth.
"He's been a bit of an enigma to be honest and I'm delighted for the owners, it's the first day they haven't been racing as they are on holiday in Dubai," Cromwell, who was earlier on the mark with Toto Too commented.
"It's great for him to get his head in front, he's been threatening for a long time and banging on the door.
"Hopefully the handicapper doesn't put him up much and gives him some kind of chance again.
"He had a little bit of a break in the winter when we got a little bit of a wind job done on him but he's had a few runs since then and it didn't seem to make any difference, so I don't know what the answer is.
"We've tried him over further and that didn't work either, it helps though when they get their head in front."
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
