Benson swoops late to set up shot at £100,000 Cheltenham Festival bonus

Benson pounced late to deliver a telling blow for local trainer Sandy Thomson in the Morebattle Hurdle at Kelso, setting up a potential tilt at a £100,000 bonus if able to quickly follow up at the Cheltenham Festival.

Heading into the contest on the back of a clear-cut victory at Musselburgh on New Year’s Day, the eight-year-old was sent off at 11-1 to reward those who follow the Lambden-based handler.

Kept quiet in the rear by Ryan Mania, his jockey, as Wajaaha set a hot pace, he was smuggled into the contest and loomed large as the Lorna Fowler-trained Colonel Mustard hit the front and set for home with two out.

Mania was still to produce Benson as Colonel Mustard’s stride began to shorten jumping the last, but he soon edged past the game Irish challenger with the winning post approaching and the victory was arguably worth more than the official verdict of two lengths.

Victory now offers connections the chance to add an extra £100,000 to the pot if able to add to this victory at Cheltenham later this month. The winner holds entries in both the Coral Cup and Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle, with Coral making the horse a 20-1 shot for both contests.

At Newbury, The Big Bite rolled back the years to edge his way to Greatwood Gold Cup Handicap Chase glory. Third in the race behind Umbrigado in 2021, he was without a victory since his debut for trainer Henry Oliver in November 2020 and was sent off the 12-1 outsider in first-time cheekpieces for a contest which delivered a thrilling finish.

The new headgear seemed to spark some life into the 10-year-old who moved up to challenge long-time leader Gemirande as the field exited the back straight. A good jump at the third last saw the veteran move to the front