Cheltenham Festival: Jango Baie Swoops late to grab Arkle Chase Glory for Nico de Boinville and Nicky Henderson | Racing news

Jango Baie went up to the challenge to claim a stunning refresh of My Pension Expert Arkle Challenge Trophy Novices’ Chase in Cheltenham.

Nicky Henderson’s bay could not go at the early pace and found it back to the small field of the five as the race developed.

Until the hill, the race seemed to be between the fancy couple Majborough and L’Au du Sud, but Jango Baie never surrendered to the back of the package and fell into a dispute in the final steps to score 5/1 below Nico de Boinville, only at night.

Henderson was originally set up to throw the favorite at Sir Gino, but saw his time cut off the injury.

“Without Sir Gino, it was this horse to reach three (miles) or down two. He was going to run, but he couldn’t go fast enough,” Henderson said. “He couldn’t really go fast enough.

“This was some ride! Let them go, and they went hard, and it’s great ground – it’s the right quick jump and they were pounding.

“I’ve seen it before, when it’s out of it. You’ve always got the hill to come to your help if you need it. I have to admit that I never dreamed that it would need it, but it threw the latter and once it was running – I didn’t know it was so fast. I had to admit.

“From where I was. I thought it was too late. It was incredible. It just nailed them.

“This was Nick’s 50th grade. It’s nice to take it early on the boat and what way to do it. It was a brilliant ride.”

In what was already an emotional afternoon, owner Tony Barney said: “I bought the horse on the day my son was killed, his name was James Barney, the horse is Jango Baie, the same.

De Boinville said: “I always thought I could get there, fell down the hill, I just thought Barry (Geraghty) when he drove the champion and made a similar species to RSA (2020) when he fell out.

“I couldn’t go to galloping, but I knew that he was going to stay. So it was just a case of filling him and seeing if I could get a broken hill.

“It’s a wonderful feeling when you know you’re going to get there, but it’s full of mattress when you get off a neck or head, which happens a lot. Today the stars were aligned and got his head forward.”

Gavin Cromwell took Gasp’s last defeat for the night at the chin. He said: “He ran and jumped very well and I thought for a few seconds we were at home and they fell.

“As soon as we went slowly a stay. I am happy to have chosen the right race anyway, it is a shame not to win when you are running so well, but we are happy.

“You always like to see them running well at the beginning of the week and keeping confidence high is in good shape.”

From the third Majborough house, Willie Mullins said: “Although our horse was hit and not jumping well, I thought it was a great fight to watch and I am happy for Nico and happy for Nicky.

“It was a fantastic ride by Nico for the winner. Our colleague just didn’t jump and that’s not like him, so it’s frustrating, but to make the mistake he made in the second last and still ending the third, showing what kind of engine he has.

“We had no concern about his jump and I am surprised to do so, but that can happen in the heat of the battle.

“It looks like (Gold Cup) horse type. I know he has the engine to do it. We have to take the jump right and stay healthy.”

Harry Skelton, who struggles with a black eye and stitches that have been kicked by a foal, added by L’Au du Sud, who is trained by his brother Dan: “He has run very well and has not lost a stroke and just hit after the latter, there is no longer you can ask.

“He’s just hit a length and a half and somehow ended quarter. He’s running well.”