Leopardstown Results: Sir Des Champs now Jewson favourite

Latest News / Timeform / 28 January 2012 / Leave a Comment

Davy Russell: Rode Sir Des Champs

"He made a few errors there but he galloped on nicely from the last."

Sir Des Champs maintained his unbeaten record since joining Willie Mullins in the Boylesports.com - Bet On Your Mobile Novice Chase.

A winner at the Cheltenham Festival in March, the French import had run to a Timeform master rating of 142p when winning his first two starts over fences without much alarm but faced a tough task here against the highly-regarded Hidden Cyclone.

There were three in line over the last as Fists Of Fury, Hidden Cyclone and the even-money favourite Sir Des Champs were locked together.

A mistake from the favourite seemed to cost him all chance but Davy Russell did not panic and the six-year-old quickened up very smartly to beat Fists Of Fury by half a length with Hidden Cyclone just behind.

Trainer Willie Mullins said: "He made a few errors there but he galloped on nicely from the last.

"He is improving slowly and he'll go for one of the staying novice chases at Cheltenham - either the Jewson (currently [8.8] favourite) or the RSA (11.0)."

Russell added: "He was bit lazy throughout but he jumped great.

"He got in a little bit tight to the last but he is a clever horse and he fiddled it. I only had to give him one slap and we were always going to get there.

"I like him, I like him plenty and anything from two and a half miles up will be fine for him."