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Trainer Alan King was delighted with the performance of Elgin, who ran out the neck winner of the feature £100,000 Unibet Greatwood Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham this afternoon.

 

The 10/1 shot travelled comfortably on the rain-softened ground for jockey Wayne Hutchinson and was one of a number of horses still in with a shout as the field turned for home.

 

However, the five-year-old, who was bred by owner Elite Racing Club and carried 10st 8lb, responded well to his rider's urgings to repel the challenge of runner-up Misterton, with previous winner Old Guard a further four and a half lengths back in third.

 

King was delighted with Elgin after the race.

 

"That was a great performance," said King

 

"My other horse (William H Bonney, who finished fifth) ran a mighty race and I thought he probably travelled the better of the two. He's probably got a bit tired in this ground on his first run back.

 

"I've been placed in this race a lot of times but never won it before. He's a proper horse - he's race fit. He won well at Ascot last time out and I thought this race might come a bit quick for him - it was only 15 days ago - but he came out it very well. My only real concern was the ground to be honest - it was the unknown. He seemed to handle it well though - we've probably gone two and a half miles today going wide looking for the better ground. Wayne's given the outside to no-one.

 

"I was going to give him a run on the Flat this summer but, as he'd been on the go for a while, I thought I better give him a break. He really benefitted from that.

 

"We'll see how he comes out of it but we might go to Ascot (for the Ascot Handicap Hurdle - previously the Ladbroke Hurdle) just before Christmas. He's progressive and a tough horse. I'm delighted to train a big winner for the Elite Racing Club - they're a proper organisation and bred this horse.

 

"Elgin had issues with his knees as a young horse - he started out with James Fanshawe but never ran for him.

 

"My horses have actually been running well but we've just been hitting the bar of late. We've won some big races already this season though with the likes of Smad Place (winner of the Old Roan Chase at Aintree) and this fellow and I'm happy with them.

 

"There's nothing like a winner here though."

10/1 chance Misterton finished second by a neck for trainer Harry Fry and jockey Tom Scudamore.

 

Fry said: "It doesn't get much closer. He's run a career-best and I'm delighted with him. He's been beaten a neck from a pound out of the handicap. Brilliant run. The horse has given his all - he's jumped, he's travelled, he's done everything right."

 

Third, four and a half lengths behind Misterton, was the Paul Nicholls-trained, Bryony Frost-ridden Old Guard.

 

Nicholls said: " I'm delighted with him - it was a very good run. He kept battling on in the home straight and it looked like it was hard work out there on the ground. He showed that he could handle the ground, and he may have wanted slightly better conditions, but I'm thrilled with him. He got slightly outpaced going down the hill but he then stayed on again.

 

"I think we'll look to step him up in trip now and the Lanzarote Hurdle and potentially the Coral Cup are races that could suit him."

 

And The New One, Nigel Twiston-Davies' popular nine-year-old, finished fourth under Richard Johnson.

 

Twiston-Davies said: "It was a very good run, giving lots of weight away. It's hard work in that ground. But I'm delighted we ran him - we were worried about running him, but he's done really well and beat all the ones he wasn't meant to beat! There was just some that were too well-handicapped."