King Turgeon bagged his second big prize of the season when rallying gamely in the
Sonic The Hedgehog 3 Coming Soon Handicap Chase at
Cheltenham.
The David Pipe-trained grey already had a victory over the
Grand National fences to his name this season in the Grand Sefton.
Just like at Aintree, Jack Tudor made most of the running but with three furlongs to go he was headed, this time by both Our Power and the favourite, Chianti Classico.
It was Kim Bailey’s Festival winner who led into the straight under his new jockey Ciaran Gethings, but Our Power was pestering him and a few lengths down Tudor had pulled King Turgeon (9-4) wide for another crack.
He began to stay on powerfully up the hill and he ended up running out a convincing three-length winner, with Our Power edging top-weight Chianti Classico for second.
Connections of the winner may not now be too concerned that their initial target, the Becher Chase at Aintree last weekend, was abandoned due to Storm Darragh.
Paddy Power and Betfair cut the winner to 33-1 from 50s for the Grand National.