STAGE STAR strikes from the front for Nicholls and Cobden at the 2023 Cheltenham Festival

Stage Star jumped his rivals into submission in the Turners Novices’ Chase to end Paul Nicholls’ three-year drought at the Cheltenham Festival.
The champion trainer had drawn a blank at the big meeting since Politologue won the Champion Chase in 2020, but it proved well worth the wait as Stage Star backed up his smart form this season to produce an excellent round of jumping and galloping.
An all-the-way winner in handicap company on Festival Trials day and a Grade One winner as a novice hurdler, he repeated the dose when it really mattered, moving back into top company with aplomb.
Sent immediately to the front by Harry Cobden, the 15-2 shot traded blows with Laura Morgan’s Notlongtilmay throughout, with the duo the only ones left in the mix after the last and the Ditcheat inmate pulling out more for a three-and-a-quarter-length success.
Odds-on favourite Mighty Potter travelled well for the majority, as did Willie Mullins’ Appreciate It, but both failed to pick up sufficiently at the business end, with the celebrations belonging to Nicholls, who took his Cheltenham tally to 47, and his jockey Cobden - himself ending a long four-year stay on the Festival cold list.
"It's been a tough week so far, but it's a tough place," said Nicholls.
#horseracing #horses #cheltenhamfestival
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[@ryanmichael6592]

The dream is done, 20 years in the making. I now need something else to live for.

[@shotstube]

Same mate

[@kingscote1900]

Great recovery at the last from a brave horse and a very capable jockey.

[@Jack-lv7xz]

Cobden great jockey if not the best

[@comesahorseman]

Brave trip.

[@Stephen-hu7pf]

Hard race there no good for aintree

[@pauloconnor5101]

Easy time up front but good ride too

[@themanager3]

MANAGER OF YONKERS RACE WAY SAYS HELLO THE ONE THE ONLY THE MANAGER

[@karlblake1151]

Mighty potter let me down 27k ha

[@Martin.Lewis..]

Potter Lay ✅ Now for Shishkin lay and the LUCCIA lay. It’s what I do - I get the shorties beat! Jonbon✅ Gerri✅ Hermes✅ Edwardstone ✅ Potter ✅ Shishkin ✅ LUCCIA ✅

[@drsteelhammer4056]

Energumene was the favourite in the Champion chase ya donut 🤦🏼‍♂️

[@robt8564]

Jonbon didn't go off favourite either. What a total clown

[@Theman-tq8oq]

Hermes Allen want favourite you sausage n jonbon should of never been. He jumps class but is overrated

[@Martin.Lewis..]

😂😂😂 ready these clueless replies. I didnt know a horse had to be favourite guys for it to be laid? 🤡🤡🤡 What absolute tools some folk are on here. WHY AM I ALWAYS HAVING TO EDUCATE!?!

[@Martin.Lewis..]

@@drsteelhammer4056 😂😂😂 what a prat. And your point is?

[@DoghouseRiley0714]

Nicholls' first Cheltenham winner, since Politilogue won the Champion Chase. Embarrassing!

[@thomascoughlan5932]

Someone angry they lost money

[@TBG763]

Great win. I collected nice aswell