Kargese sprang a minor surprise as she claimed victory in the Singer Arkle Challenge Trophy Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham.
Sent off a 7-1 shot with all eyes on her Willie Mullins-trained stablemate Kopek Des Bordes and Nicky Henderson’s Lulamba, Kargese was given a perfect front-running ride from Danny Mullins.
The mare was clearly still travelling well turning for home and while both the market leaders tried to challenge, in particular Kopek Des Bordes, she held firm up the hill and kept finding to win by two and a quarter lengths from her fellow Mullins runner, with the jumping of the runner-up and third horse Lulamba leaving a bit to be desired at the business end.
Mullins said: “Kargese jumped superbly and had far more experience than Kopek which has stood to her at the finish.
“It’s a nice feeling watching two of your own fight out the finish and you think of Annie Power but surely two of them wouldn’t fall at the last, at least one of them would get over you hope.
“We all need Cheltenham winners and it’s great for Danny and it’s fabulous to get off the mark for the week. I thought Danny gave her a tremendous ride and he used all the attributes that she has – when he wanted a jump at the last, he got it.
“We were happy Lulamba was up with Kargese and my worry was that Kopek might get in front with Kargese and the two of them might run the powder out of each other.
The mistake that cost Kopek Des Bordes as stumbled on landing at the last fence in the Arkle
“She’s tough and she gives herself a hard race, even over hurdles as a juvenile and everything since. We couldn’t believe how well she finished off her season as a juvenile. She’s a really tough nut.
“She looks like a Champion Chase horse, but we’ll have to decide.”
There was sad news following the race as Cheltenham officials confirmed Gary and Josh Moore’s horse Hansard had suffered a fatal injury.
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