'I was going to do cartwheels' - joy as ex-nail stylist downs Gordon Elliott

Friday: Cheltenham

Jump racing's ability to showcase the underdog was in evidence after the 2m novice chase won by Straw Fan Jack, whose trainer Sheila Lewis has gone from painting nails to beating Gordon Elliott.

The Elliott-trained Ash Tree Meadow looked to be in control, but Sean Houlihan conjured a fine effort from Straw Fan Jack, who runs in the colours of Graham Wilson.

He was chuffed, but Lewis was beaming with delight.

Straw Fan Jack (right) rallies to upset Ash Tree MeadowCredit: Edward Whitaker

"Have you ever seen anyone so excited?" she said. "I was going to do cartwheels coming into the winner's enclosure but I was being interviewed – there's plenty of time for that.

"Can you imagine what this means for a small trainer like me?"

Straw Fan Jack was given a quote of 33-1 for the Sporting Life Arkle at the Cheltenham Festival in March and Lewis, who ran a beauty salon until recently, does not think that is fanciful.

She enjoyed a breakthrough post-Covid campaign in the 2020-21 season and is now giving the training profession all of her attention.

"I was in the salon painting nails a year ago, but quit to train full time," she added. "This is a big massive dream come true. It was an easy decision because this is my passion, but you've got to get the horses. The salon closed again in 2021 because of Covid and I'd had those 12 winners, which led to more horses and owners, but we're still small."

'Do I think he's an Arkle horse? It could be a dream'

Of her winner, who returned at 5-2, she said: "He's done us proud. He ran in some big handicap hurdles last season, when he probably should have gone chasing, but racing in those big fields has taught him to be a racehorse and wake up.

"I don't know what we'll do next, but he does want the better ground. Do I think he's an Arkle horse? It could be a dream – it probably had crossed my mind but I'm too modest to jinx anything. It's a dream and it would be amazing to have a horse able to run in the Arkle."

Seddon is way too good for his rivalsCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

'An unbelievable thrill'

It was only the Friday of the October meeting, but the celebrations after Seddon won the 2m4f handicap hurdle would not have been out of place at the festival in March.

He is trained by John McConnell and is owned by the Galaxy Horse Racing Syndicate, whose Derek McGeehan said: "That was incredible. We've been coming here since 1996 as racegoers and we've been going as a syndicate for five and a half years. He's our 17th winner, but our first over jumps and it's an unbelievable thrill.

"It means the world to us. Cheltenham is such a special place for Irish people. We're staying over tonight and I'd say the pace of the celebrations has just changed a gear."

Johnny Maher, who helped found the syndicate with McGeehan, confirmed a good time would be in store.

"It could get messy," he warned.

McConnell completed a double when Fennor Cross was on top in the maiden hurdle.

Found On produces a spectacular leap under Sean BowenCredit: Edward Whitaker

Bowen sparkles

Connections of Found On, who landed the 2m4f novice handicap chase, heaped praise on Sean Bowen for executing his tactics to perfection.

"Sean is amazing on her - he's the difference," said Birmingham-based property developer Oliver Ryan, who owns the mare.

She is trained by Martin Keighley, who added: "She makes the running and Sean came in and said they all wanted to make the running, but he's such a good rider and gave her plenty of room over the couple of fences and then they dominated the race."

Mofasa (left) picks up with verve under Luca MorganCredit: Edward Whitaker

Scudamore excited

A big weekend for Michael Scudamore got off to the best start when the promising Mofasa struck in the 2m4f novice hurdle.

He runs in the orange and black silks of Lynne Maclennan and was ridden by Luca Morgan.

Scudamore, who runs the smart Do Your Job in Sunday's Jewson St Helens Old Roan Chase at Aintree, stopped short of hailing the son of Ocavango as the second coming, but holds him in high regard.

"He's done everything right so far and we've not had many novice hurdlers do what he's done," the trainer said.

"He's going the right way and has got to develop, but physically he looks the part and mentally he seems to have the right attitude for the job so hopefully he can keep progressing."

The runners in the handicap hurdle for conditional jockeys, which was won by Soul Icon (handy, red silks)Credit: Edward Whitaker

Brilliant Burke

Keiran Burke's best season on record became even more memorable as the trainer saddled Soul Icon for a fifth successive win in the 2m½f handicap hurdle. Burke, who oversaw Hunt Ball's spectacular rise from a mark of 69 to win at the Cheltenham Festival off a mark of 142 during the 2011/12 season, has placed Soul Icon to win seven of his last eight starts.

Results, replays and analysis

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