North Hill Harvey foils Sceau Royal in Cheltenham thriller

North Hill Harvey made a successful start to his career over fences in the squareintheair.com Novices' Chase at Cheltenham on Friday.

Dan Skelton's charge won the Greatwood Hurdle in the Cotswolds last November, but disappointed in the County Hurdle at the Festival in March and again at Aintree.

He was a 100-30 chance for his fencing bow in the hands of the trainer's brother, Harry, and fenced fluently in the most part at the head of affairs.

The six-year-old looked booked for minor honours when 11-8 favourite Sceau Royal loomed up in the home straight, but there was little to choose between the pair jumping the final fence.

Sceau Royal briefly poked his head in front on the run-in, but North Hill Harvey roared back tenaciously to get up and score by a neck. Ballyhill was another couple of lengths away in third, with Movewiththetimes, who perhaps needed the run more than the first two home, was beaten a total of five lengths into fourth.

Betfair and Paddy Power make North Hill Harvey 33-1 to win the Arkle at the Festival in March but he is as short as 16-1 with some firms. Sceau Royal, who was trying to concede 5lb, is a general 25-1, with Movewiththetimes theame price.