Charbel produces dominant front-running display to win Peterborough

Charbel, who has often had to play the bridesmaid behind some of jumping’s superstars, gained a much-deserved first big-race success in the Grade 2 Tattersalls Ireland Edredon Bleu Chase at Huntingdon under a brilliant front-running ride from Noel Fehily.

The Kim Bailey-trained winner, runner-up to Politologue on his last start in the Grade 2 Christy 1965 Chase, was sent off 13-8 favourite in a competitive contest that included three-time Grade 1 winner God’s Own and the 2016 winner Josses Hill, and he ran his rivals ragged for an eight-length success.

After being taken on for the lead by Art Mauresque, the David and Julie Martin-owned runner was asked to stride on by Fehily and produced several prodigious jumps.

Bailey, who has an exciting string of horses this season, including the unbeaten Vinndication, was particularly emotional at the success of his stable stalwart in a race best known as the Peterborough Chase.

“I’m delighted," he said. "If any horse deserved to win a decent race he deserved it as he’s been knocking around for a while."

The seven-year-old, who was registering a first Graded success after several near-misses, has thrived since undergoing a back operation in the summer and was taking his seasonal tally to two wins from four starts.

“He’s always given us the impression he’s a good horse, he had a back operation during the summer which has made a big difference," continued Bailey.

"We put cheekpieces back on today because at the end of it he needed to be sharp and fresh. He’d come out of the Ascot race well and we’re delighted for his owners."

David Bass, who usually takes the mount, was unable to ride owing to an injury sustained at Wetherby the day before, and Bailey paid tribute to the work Bass had put into the horse, saying: “I’m really sorry for David as he would have loved that.”

Despite indication from Bailey that Charbel might miss the Cheltenham Festival, he was widely cut to 12-1 (from 25) for the Ryanair Chase.

God’s Own, previously a gritty winner of the Haldon Gold Cup at Exeter, finished an eight-length second while King George third Tea For Two rallied strongly to fill that same position ahead of Josses Hill.

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