Givemefive hands Harry Derham first Cheltenham win as star owners Graeme McDowell and Brooks Koepka celebrate from Florida

Harry Derham's fast-rising training career scaled new heights as he enjoyed a first Cheltenham winner with Givemefive in the Masterson Holdings Hurdle.

In a fashion almost trademarked by his 14-time championship-winning uncle Paul Nicholls, he completed a masterful piece of early season target training as the four-year-old skipped past Dodger Long and the well-fancied Bottler'secret after the omitted last flight to strike under Paul O'Brien.

Golf star Graeme McDowell heads the owners Smash Racing, which also includes fellow major winner Brooks Koepka, and he appeared on Derham's phone screen in an instant with the 2010 US Open star on video call from Florida to celebrate a long plan coming to fruition.

Derham, who started in December 2022 after being assistant to Nicholls for six years, said: "That means an awful lot; this is a very special place. I suppose I'm doing what I'm doing because I was 11 chasing Ruby [Walsh] and Kauto Star up that hill and watching uncle Paul win all those races. To have one of those in my own name is a cool thing to do.

"He's been a fabulous little horse and well found by my cousin Megan [Nicholls]. From the first day we jumped him we knew we'd have some fun. I'm really proud. He's never let us down and this was a plan we've had for a long time and it's paid off.

"Graeme is made up. It's a shame the boys couldn't be here but he's done them proud."

The Betfair Hurdle is among potential targets for Givemefive and Derham added: "I won't do big handicaps until after Christmas. There's a race for four-year-olds at Fairyhouse next month or we [might] leave him alone. He's got good days ahead of him and I'd love to run him in a Betfair Hurdle."

National aim for Senior Chief

Senior Chief emerged as a Grand National contender for Henry de Bromhead on an afternoon when the Irish were again dominant at Cheltenham, winning four of the seven races.

The seven-year-old dispelled his disappointing effort in the Irish National at the end of last season to hold off his well-supported stablemate The Short Go by a length and a quarter.

He delivered a sound jumping display under Darragh O'Keeffe and was priced up at 50-1 for the Grand National, a race his trainer won with Minella Times in 2021.

Senior Chief: "We felt he was entitled to do that"Credit: john grossick

De Bromhead said: "He always looked like there was a big one in him. He was disappointing in the [Irish] National, we gave him a good break and I'm delighted.

"The plan was to win a big handicap, and we felt he was entitled to do that, and now we'll see. The English National has always been in my head for him but his run in the Irish threw me a little. He may be more a left-hander, I'm not sure."

Off the mark

There was also a Cheltenham breakthrough for Irish trainer Ian Donoghue, who landed the 2m4f novice handicap chase with Lisnamult Lad.

The 20-1 shot held off Weveallbeencaught to win by half a length to give the County Meath operation its first winner outside Ireland. Sean Bowen took the ride with the trainer's brother Keith on the pulled-up Dutch Schultz for boss Gavin Cromwell.

"It's a pity Keith wasn't riding but if you can get Sean you've got to use him," said the trainer. "We'll probably look to the Irish National. We'll mind him before then but we could look to come back here for the festival."

Final aim for The Wallpark

The Wallpark could be saved for the Pertemps Final after landing his fourth win in succession in the qualifier for the Cheltenham Festival contest. He held off Gowel Road to win for Jordan Gainford and Gordon Elliott.

The Wallpark: winner at Cheltenham on SaturdayCredit: john grossick

Familiar path

John McConnell landed the 3m novice hurdle for the third time in five years as 2-1 favourite Intense Approach made all under Harry Cobden. He could be kept fresh for an Albert Bartlett bid in March, the same route taken by McConnell's Bardenstown Lad, who finished third in 2022.

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