Diesel D'Allier lands gamble as French challengers rule in cross country

Diesel D’Allier led home a one-two for French trainer Emmanuel Clayeux in the the Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Chase at Cheltenham.

The six-year-old grey, backed from double-figure odds down to 13-2, justified the strong market support with a convincing victory.

Kept off the pace for most of the three-and-three-quarter-mile stamina test, Charlie Deutsch brought him into contention at the business end of proceedings.

He jumped the final fence in front and galloped strongly up the hill to hold his stable companion Urgent De Gregaine by four and a half lengths.

Richard Hobson’s Chic Name was the first of the home contingent in third spot, two and three-quarter lengths away.

Diesel D’Allier was given a quote of 16-1 for the Cross-Country Chase at the Festival with Betfair and Paddy Power.

The winning trainer said: "I wasn't sure the younger horse would adapt to the racecourse, but he jumped fluently and was brilliant. He should come back in December and then we'll see about March.

"I hope Urgent De Gregaine will run in March and that's his main objective. He will finish then, and I'd like to retire him after another win here and then maybe we will have a statue of him here."

A sdelighted Deutsch said: "He was brilliant and gave me a great spin. I rode one for Mr Clayeux here two years ago and he jumped brilliantly. I got a phone call off him last week and I just said 'yes! yes! yes!'- I didn't even know what it was. He gave me a great spin and these French horses jump so well.

"I am very grateful for the ride. He has quickened up the hill really well and is a lovely horse. It would be easy to slip up round there and this lad was very clever on his feet, it was just a matter of clinging on. It was tight where the fence was bypassed and I was just trying to get a run through. Luckily, I had plenty of horse under me so you could go for the gaps. I am over the moon.

"It was a great buzz. I probably went a bit overboard, but I was having a good time. You've got to enjoy because you don't know when you'll get a winner round here next, and I had a dream run. The horse travelled everywhere, jumped really well and I was just lucky to be on board, really.

"I was told not to be too far away at the start, and he was a bit slow in some of his races over the first few, but to be fair we've slotted in nicely, taken our time a bit, and then it was just a case of finding our way through, really, and then seeing how much we had left at the end.

"He had plenty left and his jumping was very fluent. I was jumping past horses all the time, but I was just trying to find a gap to slot into and eventually we got there when they got a bit tired.

"My French is terrible! It's a long time since I went to school."