Corach Rambler flies home to seal festival first for 'extraordinary' Derek Fox

Tuesday: Ultima Handicap Chase, Cheltenham

Derek Fox won praise from one of the modern-day Cheltenham legends as he landed his landmark first festival success with a miraculous come-from-behind triumph on Corach Rambler.

Eight-time champion jockey Peter Scudamore, who won 13 races at the meeting including two Champion Hurdles, has made no secret of how much he thinks of his partner Lucinda Russell's stable jockey.

He called the rider, who won the 2017 Grand National for the yard on One For Arthur, a "genius" earlier this season and was left looking for superlatives once again after an astonishing Ultima Handicap Chase.

Gericault Roque and Oscar Elite looked to have the race between them as they disputed the lead over the last fence but Fox conjured an amazing late run from his mount, who had been slowly away in the 3m1f race and still well adrift three out, to catch them on the run-in and score by two and three-quarter lengths.

Ultima Handicap Chase: full result and race replay

Gericault Roque held off Oscar Elite for second. Tea Clipper was fourth and Our Power completed a British clean sweep of the first five places in a race no Irish horse has won since 2006.

'Corach Rambler is the only horse I have ever seen who can work with Ahoy Senor'

"It's unbelievable," said Russell, sending out her second festival winner ten years after breaking her duck with Brindisi Breeze. "When he missed the start I turned to one of the owners and said 'we're going to have to have a vintage Derek Fox hold-up ride' – and we did. It was perfect.

"Luce has done a fantastic job training him but what a ride," said Scudamore, who regularly partners the winner himself on the gallops at home in Tayside.

Corach Rambler: 'Luce has done a fantastic job training him but what a ride'Credit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

"Derek Fox is an extraordinary man. He has quite an unbelievable association and understanding with the horses that only a few of the elite jockeys have got. You've got to understand Corach Rambler. He wants to come late."

Fox was just grateful for the opportunity and said: "He was slowly away at the start but Scu said to be patient if they're going quick. I probably ended up further back than we planned but I just had to ride him from where I was left.

"I knew if I got a good run I'd be placed. Up the hill he stayed very well and stuck his head down in the last 50 yards. It worked out really well, I'm delighted."

Fox and Russell team up again with Brown Advisory Novices' Chase hope Ahoy Senor on Wednesday and Scudamore said: "Corach Rambler is the only horse I have ever seen who can work with Ahoy Senor, so that's a good sign for tomorrow."

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