'An important winner' - Dame Du Soir ends barren spell for David Bridgwater

David Bridgwater felt there was no better setting than Cheltenham to end his 206-day winless streak and highlighted the significance of Dame Du Soir's brave win after a difficult few years for the stable.

The nine-year-old, ridden by conditional jockey Lilly Pinchin, battled courageously to beat Marta Des Mottes in the 2m4½f mares' handicap chase and give her trainer his first course success since The Conditional's Ultima victory at the 2019 festival.

Yet Bridgwater has endured a difficult spell since that memorable day. He had 19 winners in the season of his Cheltenham winner, but his tally dwindled to four and ten for the following campaigns while his stable star also suffered a fatal injury.

This was only his second win of the season from 28 runners over jumps, but he fancied his chances as she had shaped well when sixth in this race last season.

David Bridgwater: based in Stow-on-the-WoldCredit: Edward Whitaker

"When you need a winner, there's no better place," said Bridgwater. "If you haven't got the horses, you can't compete. She was 19lb better off this year just because she wasn't right last season and tumbled down the weights.

"I thought she'd place in this last season but she made a mistake at the last. You didn't need to be a rocket scientist to know she could go close with 19lb less on her back.

"It's just lovely to get back into the winner's enclosure. It's been a bit quiet and we've been hitting the goalposts. It's an important winner."

Change of fortune

Tim Vaughan described it as "galling" to watch former stable flagbearer Le Milos land the £250,000 Coral Gold Cup for new connections a fortnight ago, yet the trainer enjoyed his own big handicap chase success courtesy of Eva's Oskar.

The eight-year-old came out on top of a thrilling finish to the 3m2½f Dahlbury Handicap Chase to tee up a potential shot at the Welsh National, for which he is now 16-1.

The Grand National could also be an end-of-season target and his victory continued Vaughan's good spell with this a third winner from 12 runners in December.

"He stuck on doggedly so I'm delighted and it's great for everyone," Vaughan said. "I thought we could win or finish fifth and beaten three lengths, it was that competitive a race. I'm glad he came out on top. I love it.

Eva's Oskar: landed the Dahlbury Handicap for Tim VaughanCredit: Alan Crowhurst / Getty Images

"The Welsh National is definitely a thought if it comes up soft. That'll be another step forward but the longer trip and softer ground would put things more in our favour. He's battle-hardened, the right age and has had a couple of runs so we'll see. The Welsh National, Eider and National are in my mind."

Le Milos was in training with Vaughan for four seasons before being moved to Dan Skelton. He has won both starts for the new stable, including his memorable Newbury win.

"Look it was tough," Vaughan said. "I love the horse, I bought him as a three-year-old, nurtured him through and he was ready for this season so to have him taken away at that time is galling. It's lovely he did what I thought he could do though."

Scottish aim

Dan Skelton suggested the Scottish National could be a long-term target for Hidden Heroics following his easy win in the 3m1½f novice handicap chase.

He defeated sole finisher Art Approval by 45 lengths, while Green Vault was fatally injured after unseating two out.

Hidden Heroics: defeated sole finisher Art Approval by 45 lengthsCredit: Edward Whitaker

"He jumped nicely although he was a little bit out to his right," reflected Skelton. "I ran him at Aintree at the start of the season and we dropped him in and he ran like a hippo with a hernia. It was awful.

"He's had a clear round around Cheltenham as a novice which is not the easiest task in the world so we're very happy with him. He's always had the ability.

"We'll keep going as we are and find some more novice handicaps. I’m not going to step him up dramatically in grade at the moment but we might look at the Scottish Grand National."

Iconic colours

The Patricia Pugh silks famously carried by Altior were back in the Cheltenham winner's enclosure as Attacca landed the 2m½f novice hurdle. The four-year-old was cut to 33-1 for the Supreme, a race won by Altior in 2016.

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