Williams and Deutsch juggernaut in top gear as Funambule Sivola strikes

Saturday: Newbury

The golden run of Venetia Williams and Charlie Deutsch might have had a temporary pit stop when Royale Pagaille was second in the Denman Chase, but their juggernaut quickly got moving at full pelt again when Funambule Sivola's ascent up the two-mile chasing ranks continued in the Game Spirit.

That victory earned the talented seven-year-old quotes for the Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival next month, but Williams – never Don King when it comes to talking up her heavyweight contenders – was not about to change tack in terms of shaking up big-race favourite Shishkin.

Game Spirit Chase result

"A few horses have got close to Shishkin only for Shishkin to look behind them at the last and then scoot away," she said.

"Today was a strong performance and I try to avoid having any expectations, but he's fulfilled hopes."

Racing for a syndicate that includes wine tipster Neil Phillips, Funambule Sivola showcased his ability by making all in the Betfair-backed Grade 2 which contained some classy rivals in Sceau Royal, Hitman and Sky Pirate, albeit they are not necessarily participants at the level Shishkin plays in.

Nonetheless, nothing could wipe the smile off the face of Williams, whose highlights this season – in partnership with the likeable Deutsch – include the Ladbrokes Trophy, Peter Marsh and last week's Grade 1 Scilly Isles Novices' Chase.

"Charlie has been with me for quite a long time and we get on really well," she added. "We see eye to eye in how we like the horses to be ridden and it's great to see it working well."

Bravemansgame (right) with another super leapCredit: Edward Whitaker

Bravemansgame success delights Nicholls

Paul Nicholls was back in business when Bravemansgame – one of his Somerset stable's main hopes for Cheltenham – landed the novice handicap chase.

Owned by John Dance and Bryan Drew, Bravemansgame was a Grade 1 winner taking the unusual step of running in a handicap and he had too much class for his rivals and is 11-4 (from 3) with Paddy Power for next month's Brown Advisory Novices' Chase.

Nicholls' all-conquering yard had been under a cloud, but he welcomed the winner and said: "He did what we wanted to do and he'll improve for the run. We purposely kept him fresh and it was a good performance.

"It's a fair mark to win a handicap off and he's not a horse who needs loads and loads of work, so that will put him right.

"When I used to have all those good horses, Kauto Star and Denman, I used to run them here needing it and that's what I've tried to do in a handicap."

Nicholls, a 12-time champion trainer, saddled just seven winners in January and Bravemansgame was his second this month.

"I haven't been able to pinpoint anything at all," he added.

Paul Nicholls with Bravemansgame's jockey Harry CobdenCredit: Edward Whitaker

"I put a line through 20 of the ones I ran last week – ground, not good enough, different things – so in January you can eliminate a lot especially after we gave them their flu jabs, but from now on we'll start improving and the good horses will always run well and the ordinary horses will run ordinary, but you can't do anything about that.

"I blood tested 23 horses on Monday and the only ones who weren't normal were the ones who went to Ireland, but you can put that down to the journey. All the ones this week look great and worked great.

"I've been running at 29 per cent strike-rate all season and now I'm 23 per cent, but I'm still higher than most trainers and at some stage over 12 months you're going to dip. I've had it before, but will crack on and concentrate on getting these good horses ready for the spring festivals. Of course you worrying about it, but you're always going to have a blip from time to time – every stable does.

"I used to worry about it, but don't now and was fairly confident he'd win today. If we didn't have a winner today I'd have been tearing my hair out.

"He's an exciting horse for Cheltenham and the future as much as anything. He's a super horse and I think he'll be even better next season when he's had another summer on his back.

"It's nice to go to Cheltenham with a chance. He got beaten there last year, but was a big baby then and fences and three miles will be a different ball game. He's much stronger and better now and he's got a nice chance."

Family fortunes

Retired star chaser Altior paraded in between races, so it was appropriate Top Dog, a close relation of the former Nicky Henderson favourite, struck in the Listed bumper.

"He isn't the finished article and isn't over-big, but he's got a proper level of ability," said trainer Emma Lavelle, who will enter the son of Leading Light in the Weatherbys Champion Bumper at Cheltenham next month.

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