Cheltenham Gold Cup hopeful Gerri Colombe galloped to a dogged success and defeated Envoi Allen and Conflated within the Ladbrokes Champion Chase at Down Royal.
Gordon Elliott’s gelding was one in every of a top-class area of 4 contesting the Grade One, with Elliott and Henry de Bromhead every liable for two horses.
The quartet travelled as a bunch for a lot of the race and turning for dwelling any one in every of them may have gone on to win, although Minella Indo was the primary to fold and Gerri Colombe switched sharply from one facet of the observe to the opposite.
Conflated and Envoi Allen had been left to leap the final in unison and it appeared as if the latter horse might have the benefit, however Gerri Colombe was steadily gaining floor on the skin and simply received his head in entrance to prevail below Jack Kennedy because the 4-7 favorite.
Elliott mentioned: “We had been delighted with him – we knew there could be enchancment in him right now, his first run in open firm.
“As Brian [Acheson, of owner Robcour] mentioned, he solely got here again in on September 19, so there’s a great deal of enchancment.
“We’ll have one run from time to time the Gold Cup. He confirmed that he’s within the combine now for the Gold Cup, he stays very properly and that is what you want.
“I was delighted that he settled into a rhythm, the other horse [Conflated] was going a bit left and was taking Jack’s horse’s eye off the fence a bit. I was a bit worried the whole way because Conflated does go left, but I did tell Jack to give him a bit of light and get him into a rhythm.
“Jack mentioned he was a bit rusty early, however I assumed he was just about foot-perfect aside from one for a novice getting into open firm. The sky is the restrict.
“He’s a great horse because he shows you absolutely nothing at home – he’s very laid-back, he’s a gentleman.”
Gerri Colombe has suffered only one defeat below guidelines, when edged out in final season’s Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase on the Cheltenham Competition.
Elliott added: “We were all gutted coming out of Cheltenham last year, it just didn’t happen for us on the day but, in fairness to Brian, he said, ‘we will be back here in 12 months’ time’.
“Willie’s horse [Mullins, Galopin Des Champs] could be very, superb however this horse has an ideal angle and, as I mentioned, he’s solely again in eight weeks. That is why I believe three miles and two furlongs goes to go well with him completely.”
Gerri Colombe was minimize from 6-1 to 5-1 for the Cheltenham Gold Cup with bookmakers Coral.