Grumpy Charley steps towards Martin Pipe for small-scale trainer Chris Honour

Grumpy Charley kept a Cheltenham Festival dream alive for trainer Chris Honour with a brave success in the 2m handicap hurdle which is hoped to have secured his place in the Martin Pipe line-up.

The six-year-old achieved a rating of 132 following two victories at the track but a third was required to guarantee his place at next month's festival.

The hat-trick looked in doubt as 5-6 favourite Eamon An Cnoic travelled powerfully throughout the Pertemps-sponsored handicap but Grumpy Charley found plenty when pressed up the straight, charging clear under Bryan Carver to run out a comfortable winner by two and a quarter lengths.

Grumpy Charley is one of ten horses trained at Honour's stable, situated near Newton Abbot, and the novice hurdler was cut to 20-1 (from 25s) by William Hill to pull off a remarkable success against racing's big guns.

"We're thrilled with that, he's a really nice horse," said Honour. "We'll look at the Martin Pipe now as long as the handicapper doesn't overreact, there's 128 entries so we needed to go up a bit so that's why he had to run. Hopefully he won't go all the way up [the handicap].

"He's going to want further and we hope he's still improving. His owner is an absolute legend and he leaves me to it, so we're excited about him."

In time it is hoped he could emerge as a Grand National contender, and Honour added: "He'll jump a fence. I bought him to be a National horse one day as he's from the same family as Native River. He's not very big but he's got the right attitude."

Overdue success

Christian Williams ended a 59-day drought in dramatic style as 25-1 shot Newlands Cross soared home to snatch victory in the final few yards of the 3m2f handicap chase.

Conditional jockey Jack Tudor was on board as the nine-year-old flew home after the last for the neck success over Sandford Castle. The success was especially significant for connections considering the horse's previous injury problems.

Christian Williams: had a first winner for 59 daysCredit: David Carr

"I'm over the moon," said Williams. "The horse has had plenty of problems, he broke down on both front legs and fractured a pelvis in the past. Plenty of credit to the owners, they had the horse in training last year knowing he wouldn't run."

Elsewhere the feature Pertemps qualifier went to the Paul Nicholls-trained Blackjack Kentucky, who thrived being sent back over hurdles.

Read more

Lust For Glory strikes for Nicky Henderson after main rival exits battle

'He's a bit of a lad' - Rockadenn causes upset as Nicholls plots spring targets

'I got some kick out of that' - Brennan shocked to ride 999-1 in-running winner

Did you know you can bet with your online bookmaker without leaving the Racing Post app? Simply sign in to your existing bookmaker account via the accounts button and tap the odds buttons on a racecard to place bets. Update or download the latest app here