Cheltenham: 'This means a lot' - Syd Hosie dreaming big after Rock My Way success

Dorset permit-holder Syd Hosie celebrated the biggest success of his career when Rock My Way struck in the Grade 2 novice hurdle, previously won by festival winners Wichita Lineman, Bobs Worth and At Fishers Cross.

Ridden by Tom Scudamore, Rock My Way was second in a maiden hurdle at the track at the start of the month but stepped up on that in style.

He has entries at the festival in March in the Ballymore Novices' Hurdle and Albert Bartlett and Hosie, a former owner with Colin Tizzard who struck out on his own, was always confident of a big performance.

"The previous time, I didn’t have a clue how he would get on as he came from the point-to-point field," he said. "This time, I thought if we can get him in the top three I won't look stupid for the entries we have made for the Ballymore and the Albert Bartlett, and I’m glad about that. We will get him home and see where he is.

"We've had a Cheltenham hunter chase winner and that, to me, was the pinnacle but this means a lot."

Back in form

Martin Keighley is relishing a second crack at the festival's cross-country race after Back On The Lash scored on the unique course.

He denied Deise Aba in a close finish to the Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Chase and will return in March for his main target, for which he was cut to 9-1 (from 33) with Sky Bet. He was pulled up in the race last season.

Back On The Lash powers home under Sean BowenCredit: Alan Crowhurst / Getty Images

That will be a tougher test again, given it is a level-weights contest and he was in receipt of 16lb from last season's Cheltenham champion Delta Work, but his local trainer hopes he can continue to improve.

"It's worked out well and we'll keep him nice and fresh then go for the festival," said Keighley. "It'll be level weights but he's still improving and hopefully he can be in the mix. He just loves jumping and is such a strong stayer, even though he's tiny. He's got loads of scope and is as hard as nails, he never knows when to give up."

Delta Work's trainer Gordon Elliott said he was "delighted" with the run, with the cross-country in March described as his Gold Cup this season.

Triumph contender

Comfort Zone: made it 3-4 over hurdles at Cheltenham

Comfort Zone was cut to 10-1 (from 14) for the Triumph Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival following his victory in the race's JCB-sponsored trial.

He came out on top in a battle up the straight with Scriptwriter, pulling away by three-quarters of a length to win for a second time at Grade 2 level.

The Joseph O'Brien-trained runner had landed the Finale Juvenile Hurdle at Chepstow last time and is now third-favourite for the festival's Grade 1 for four-year-olds.

Winning jockey Jonjo O'Neill Jr is unsure whether the Triumph will be his target, but he was impressed by the performance from the JP McManus-owned son of Churchill.

"Scriptwriter is probably the best gauge stick in England, so I was happy with the performance," he said. "Scriptwriter was a non-runner on the day [at Chepstow] so I suppose this form is a little better. The track probably suited him and he definitely deserves his chance at Cheltenham in whatever race. I wouldn't mind riding him anyway."

Bumper attendance

A crowd of 21,054 was the biggest for this meeting since 2017, while tickets for Cheltenham Gold Cup day on March 17 sold out on Saturday.

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