Gerri Colombe scores Scilly success at Sandown

Gerri Colombe produced a gutsy performance to land the Virgin Bet Scilly Isles Novices' Chase at Sandown.

Gordon Elliott’s raider arrived in England track unbeaten, having won two bumpers, a pair of hurdles and two chases, the last of which came in the Grade One Guinness Faugheen Chase at Limerick over Christmas.

Sent off the 10-11 favourite under Jordan Gainford, the seven-year-old looked to be cruising behind Balco Coastal before taking it up down the back on the final circuit.

However, he got in tight at the last of the Railway fences and briefly lost momentum.

It handed the advantage to Nicky Henderson’s runner and jockey Nico de Boinville kicked for home.

At the Pond Fence, Gerri Colombe still had a bit to do and looked laboured, yet Gainford galvanised him and he responded to his rider’s urging and having gone upsides between the last two fences, a good leap at the last sealed the deal and he strode up the hill to score by a length and three-quarters.

Thunder Rock, who had been patiently ridden at the back of the field throughout much of the two-and-a-half-mile contest, made some late gains to finish third.

Gerri Colombe is all heart to win the Grade 1 @VirginBet Scilly Isles Novices' Chase, with the seven-year-old responding gamely under @GainfordJordan to score for trainer @gelliott_racing