Paul Nicholls reports Kalif Du Berlais to be 'A1' after outsider capitalises on hot favourite's fall

Outsider-of-four Nells Son capitalised on red-hot favourite Kalif Du Berlais’s fall to land the feature 2m graduation chase.

Kalif Du Berlais, winner of the Grade 2 Adonis Hurdle in February, was described as always being the apple of his trainer Paul Nicholls’ eye prior to his chasing debut, for which he was sent off at odds of 4-11.

The four-year-old received upwards of 15lb from his three rivals and was jumping well in second under Harry Cobden before falling at the fourth-last, an open ditch.

Unexpected Party was left clear but the Grand Annual winner was worn down by Nells Son, with the Danny McMenamin-ridden 12-1 shot scoring by a length. 

Gavin Cromwell’s Path D'Oroux could not follow up last month’s breakthrough chase victory at Cheltenham and was last in the £50,000 event, which was being staged for the first time since War Lord beat subsequent Old Roan winner Minella Drama in 2021, with the meeting having been lost due to waterlogging for the last two years.

Nicholls, attending the Betting Shop Manager of the Year awards in London, watched Kalif Du Berlais walk away from his tumble and said: "We thought Kalif Du Berlais would win, but he took a very heavy fall. Thankfully he's A1, passed the vet and is on his way home. The ups and downs of racing are incredible."

Nells Son was making a successful reappearance over course and distance for the second season in a row and the nine-year-old’s trainer Nicky Richards said: “We were a little bit wrong in the ratings but I just thought he wasn’t that far out of it and with four runners it was well worth a chance.

“We’ll just take our time and freshen him up again. We’ll stick to two miles and he needs a good, strongly run race. Hopefully he’ll hold his form well all winter.”

Asta La Pasta: initiated a double for Dan and Harry SkeltonCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Unexpected Party’s rider Harry Skelton bookended the card riding for his brother Dan, first helping Asta La Pasta get off the mark over fences in the 2m4f novice handicap chase before Getawhisky made a successful debut in the bumper.

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