Clan Des Obeaux back in the groove at Exeter for Paul Nicholls

Clan Des Obeaux got his career back on track with a hard-fought success in the Higos Insurance Services Novices' Chase at Exeter.The Paul Nicholls-trained five-year-old fluffed his lines when sent off market leader for the Grade One Scilly Isles Novices' Chase at Sandown, finishing last of five behind subsequent JLT runner-up Top Notch. It was therefore back to the drawing board for Clan Des Obeaux and a confidence-boosting victory needed. The 4-9 shot had only one realistic danger in a three-runner affair but that horse, Drumlee Sunset, pushed him all the way.Sam Twiston-Davies had to get at Clan Des Obeaux after the three-times winner Drumlee Sunset set a decent pace.There was nothing between them from four out, but the odds-on favourite finally gained the upper hand at the final fence and went on to score by 11 lengths.An in-form Galactic Power (11-2 favourite) made most of his light weight to take the Higos Insurance Services Plymstock Handicap Hurdle.The Robin Dickin-trained gelding ended a 22-month losing streak when successful at Catterick in January and followed up in eyecatching fashion.Held up towards the rear of the field by Jack Quinlan, Galactic Power headed Boy In A Bentley on jumping the final flight and pulled two and a half lengths clear on the run-in."I'm very pleased with that," said Dickin."It's rained hard and I thought that might rain on his parade but he stays so well and stayed on well from the last to the line."He was always going to be better right-handed. He's a hold-up horse and Exeter is a lovely place to hold a horse up, and I'd like to think it's not the end for him, either."He's very versatile and could go further. Getting into May and he's in one piece, I wouldn't be against putting him back over fences."Although he's little, he does jump very well."Bertie Boru (9-2) enjoyed his first success since November 2014 when running out a convincing winner of the Higos Insurance Services Exeter Interactive Handicap Chase.The 10-year-old, trained by Philip Hobbs, failed to complete the course in his previous two starts but put in a solid round of jumping.Asserting from three out under Tom O'Brien, Brian Boru skated 11 lengths clear of Themanfrom Minella.O'Brien completed a double at Hobbs' expense when Zerachiel (13-2) collared Bacchanelclose home in the Higos Insurance Services Braunton Novices' Handicap Chase. Gerard Tumelty narrowly failed to end his riding career with a winner when Canford Chimes was pipped by Mikey Legg on Just A Sting (3-1) in the concluding bumper.