3 minute read
Jet Blue flies the flag for France at Cheltenham
Just 24 hours after owner Professor Caroline Tisdall and trainer David Cottin saw their leading hope Iceo Madrik unseat early in the cross-country chase, Jet Blue ensured the same connections would not leave Prestbury Park empty-handed when powering up the Cheltenham hill to claim the Grade 2 Albert Bartlett.
The 11/8 Market leader Skyjack Hijack, who was bidding to make it seven wins on the bounce on his first outing in Grade 2 company, set out to make all of the running under regular rider Sean Quinlan. However, he soon looked in trouble and all the while the eye was drawn to the French raider Jet Blue, who had worked his way into contention under James Reveley having been anchored towards the rear of the field for much of the first circuit.
Jet Blue quickly breezed to the head of affairs with a sparkling turn of foot as the field turned for home and although he was slightly untidy over the final flight, it wasn't enough to stop his momentum.
Joe Tizzard's Western Knight set off in pursuit of the leader up the run-in, but in all truth, he never looked like laying a glove on the eventual winner, who stretched clear to score by a widening six and a half lengths.
Jet Blue was making a winning debut for the David Cottin team, but he had shown plenty of decent form for past trainer Hugo Merienne, finishing third in a Grade 1 AQPS event at Longchamp before winning a conditions hurdle at Auteuil in October.
Three-time French champion jockey James Reveley, whose only previous winner at Cheltenham came on Rambling Minster for his father Keith in 2009, said: "We went a strong gallop, and he was a bit sticky early doors, but as the race went on I was more positive on him and I felt like the winner a long way out.
"I didn't want to go too far ahead, and I knew my horse would be better once he was more in the race, and he proved me right.
"For a French horse, he's got an English style in him because he's a strong stayer and he's tough.
"He maybe lacks a little gear for the French races as they're over a shorter distance and I think he's an out-and-out three-miler."
It was an emotional success for the winning owner Professor Caroline Tisdall, who said on her birthday: "I want to cry! Before the race, he looked very young and small compared to our big, English chasing types, but he's a tough little horse.
"This is a new buy – this was his first race for me. My other horses are with David Pipe, and he said why don't you have horses in France and earn some money because I wasn't earning money in England.
"The horses in France earn so much that they actually support other horses in England."