JOCKEY BARRY GERAGHTY and owner JP McManus have enjoyed a terrific start to Day 3 of the Cheltenham Festival with victories in the opening two races.
Favourties Defi Du Seuil and Sire Du Berlais both obliged for trainers Philip Hobbs and Gordon Elliott respectively.
There was a thrilling finish to the opener in the JLT Novices’ Chase with 3-1 shot Defi Du Seuil taking it for Geraghty in the latest instalment of a great developing rivalry with Lostintranslation.
In January Lostintranslation had triumphed when the pair met at Cheltenham, Defi Du Seuil gained revenge in Sandown last month and was first past the post again this afternoon.
Lostintranslation made all the running with Mengli Khan also challenging strongly before Defi Du Seuil came up on their outside on the run-in and prevailed by a length and a half. That marked Geraghty’s 37th Festival winner and a second for Defi Du Seuil after a 2017 victory in the Triumph Hurdle.
Geraghty didn’t have to wait long for another success as Sire Du Berlais claimed the second in the Pertemps Final Handicap Hurdle at 4-1.
It was a superb display by Geraghty in a huge battle for supremacy. Cuneo was in pole position heading to the last for Rachael Blackmore but ended up in fourth with Sire Du Berlais charging through to win narrowly from Tobefair in second and Not Many Left in third.
1.30pm – JLT Novices’ Chase Result
1. Defi Du Seuil (Barry Geraghty) 3-1 fav
2. Lostintranslation (Robbie Power) 4-1
3. Mengli Khan (Jack Kennedy) 9-1
2.10pm – Pertemps Final Handicap Hurdle Result
1. Sire Du Berlais (Barry Geraghty) 4-1 fav
2. Tobefair (Thomas Bellamy) 40-1
3. Not Many Left (Mark Walsh) 16-1
4. Cuneo (Rachael Blackmore) 12-1
– Updated 17.25: An earlier version of this post stated that Defi Du Seuil was Barry Geraghty’s 30th winner at the Cheltenham Festival; it was his 37th.
Subscribe to our new podcast, The42 Rugby Weekly, here:
