Favourite From The Sun Now Daily Handicap Chase
Handicap, Cheltenham 14:25
£100,000 guaranteed,
4yo plus,
3m 2f, Grade 3  
Saturday 16th December 2023

BetGoodwin

1 Broadway Boy 11/8F
2 Threeunderthrufive 15/2
3 Protektorat 16/1
8 ran NR: Back On The Lash Distances: 1¼l, 1¾l, 5½l
Time: 6m 49.09s (slow by 10.09s)

Broadway Boy continued his impressive progress in the realm of fences, securing a resolute victory. Trained by Nigel Twiston-Davies, the five-year-old had already notched two wins in three starts since transitioning to the larger obstacles. His sole defeat had come at the hands of dual Stayers’ Hurdle champion Flooring Porter at this very track in October.

Returning to Cheltenham after a convincing 20-length win in a Listed novice event, Broadway Boy entered the £100,000 handicap as the heavily supported 11-8 favorite. The competitive field included the likes of Betfair Chase winner and Gold Cup third, Protektorat. The Twiston-Davies charge, guided by trainer's son Sam, took an assertive approach from the front. Despite a couple of jumping errors, the Malinas gelding did enough on the run-in to secure victory by a length and a quarter over the persistent challenger, Threeunderthrufive.

Protektorat, under Dan Skelton, showcased a commendable performance, rebounding from a disappointing defense of his Betfair Chase title at Haydock the previous month. He finished third under the substantial burden of 12 stone. Reflecting on the winner, Twiston-Davies senior remarked, “His jumping was brilliant on the whole, but he made three mistakes down the back, and if it wasn’t for those, he would have won quite easily. He is very tough and really good.”

“After the last day, this race came onto the agenda. We are always looking for big money and this race was worth a lot of money.

“We certainly do like pitching novice chasers against experienced horses when we get the chance. We have done all our lives, and we have earned a lot of money doing that.

“I was delighted when Protektorat was declared to keep the weights down – it meant the world to us.

“He could go for either the National Hunt Chase or the Brown Advisory come the Festival. We will just have to see what the opposition looks like before making those decisions.”

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December Handicap Chase (Grade 3)
 £100,000 guaranteed, 4yo plus, 3m 2f, Class 1
8 ran
Going: Soft

POS. DIST HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER JOCKEY SP
1    Broadway Boy 5 10-9 Nigel Twiston-Davies Sam Twiston-Davies 11/8F
2 1¼ Threeunderthrufive 8 10-13 Paul Nicholls Harry Cobden 15/2
3 1¾ Protektorat 8 12-0 Dan Skelton Harry Skelton 16/1
4 5½ Rapper 9 10-3 Henry Daly Richard Patrick 66/1
5 1½ City Chief 6 10-4 Nicky Henderson Nico de Boinville 11/2
6 12 Easy As That 8 10-2 Venetia Williams Charlie Deutsch 7/2
7 27 Elvis Mail 9 10-9 N W Alexander Bruce Lynn 28/1
FELL Malina Girl 6 10-9 Gavin Cromwell Conor Stone-Walsh 7/1
NR 9 Back On The Lash 9 10-2 Martin Keighley NON RUNNER