Festival Trials day at Cheltenham (Pictures and Results)

By Jon Vine

28 Jan 2023

Jon Vine 28 Jan 2023

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A gallery of photos and results from Cheltenham racecourse on Saturday 28th January
Editeur Du Gite won the rescheduled Clarence House Chase
Ahoy Senor and Gold Tweet also claimed ITV victories

Niall Houlihan riding Editeur Du Gite (red) clear the last to win The Albert Bartlett Clarence House Chase at Cheltenham Racecourse. (Getty)

A fantastic crowd of 22,000 racegoers packed into Cheltenham to enjoy Trials Day on Saturday. Saturday's card was boosted up to nine races, after the rescheduled Clarence House Chase was added to the schedule, following Ascot's cancellation last weekend.

Punters and viewers alike were anticipating a stunning showdown between Champion Chaser Energumene and Arkle winner Edwardstone, but it was Gary Moore's Editeur Du Gite who stole the headlines, making all the running before repelling Edwardstone to claim a surprise Grade One victory.

The Cotswold Chase, which usually headlines the action on Trials Day, was won by Ahoy Senor, who battled back after being passed to defeat Sounds Russian and Noble Yeats. There was then another shock in the Cleeve Hurdle, where Paisley Park was beaten into third as French raider, Gold Tweet saw off Dashel Drasher to claim victory.

Editeur Du Gite was cut into 5/1 to win the 2023 Champion Chase by BetUK, as Energumene drifted back to 7/4 from odds-on. Ahoy Senor was slashed into 12/1 from 50s for the Gold Cup following his Cotswold Chase win. Gold Tweet would need to be supplemented for the Stayers' Hurdle, where Paisley Park drifted out to 20/1 following his first defeat in the Cleeve.

Paul Nicholls celebrated a double on Trials Day, with Stage Star and Il Ridoto winning handicap chases and both were cut into 8/1 for the Plate Handicap Chase at the Festival. Comfort Zone was also cut into 8/1 for the Triumph Hurdle after beating Scriptwriter in the Finesse Juvenile Hurdle.

Cheltenham Festival winner Delta Work finished third as Back On The Lash won the Cross Country Handicap Chase. Syd Hosie enjoyed the most high-profile victory of his training career as Rock My Way won the Ballymore Trial. Nicholls then sealed a fantastic treble on the day, as Angus Cheleda held on to win the finale on Hacker Des Places.

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CHELTENHAM, ENGLAND - JANUARY 28: Jonjo O
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CHELTENHAM, ENGLAND - JANUARY 28: Paddy Brennan riding Scriptwriter clear the last only to be caught on the run-in by Comfort Zone at Cheltenham Racecourse on January 28, 2023 in Cheltenham, England. (Photo by Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images)
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CHELTENHAM, ENGLAND - JANUARY 28: Harry Cobden riding Stage Star clear the last to win The Timeform Novices
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CHELTENHAM, ENGLAND - JANUARY 28: Harry Cobden riding Stage Star clear the last to win The Timeform Novices
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CHELTENHAM, ENGLAND - JANUARY 28: Harry Cobden riding Stage Star clear the last to win The Timeform Novices
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CHELTENHAM, ENGLAND - JANUARY 28: Harry Cobden riding Stage Star clear the last to win The Timeform Novices
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CHELTENHAM, ENGLAND - JANUARY 28: Harry Cobden riding Stage Star clear the last to win The Timeform Novices
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CHELTENHAM, ENGLAND - JANUARY 28: Harry Cobden riding Stage Star clear the last to win The Timeform Novices
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CHELTENHAM, ENGLAND - JANUARY 28: Harry Cobden riding Stage Star clear the last to win The Timeform Novices
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CHELTENHAM, ENGLAND - JANUARY 28: Sean Bowen riding Back On The Lash (red/white cap) clear the last to win The Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Chase at Cheltenham Racecourse on January 28, 2023 in Cheltenham, England. (Photo by Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images)
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CHELTENHAM, ENGLAND - JANUARY 28: Sean Bowen riding Back On The Lash (red/white cap) clear the last to win The Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Chase at Cheltenham Racecourse on January 28, 2023 in Cheltenham, England. (Photo by Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images)
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CHELTENHAM, ENGLAND - JANUARY 28: Sean Bowen riding Back On The Lash (red/white cap) clear the last to win The Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Chase at Cheltenham Racecourse on January 28, 2023 in Cheltenham, England. (Photo by Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images)
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CHELTENHAM, ENGLAND - JANUARY 28: Sean Bowen riding Back On The Lash (red/white cap) clear the last to win The Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Chase at Cheltenham Racecourse on January 28, 2023 in Cheltenham, England. (Photo by Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images)
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CHELTENHAM, ENGLAND - JANUARY 28: Sean Bowen riding Back On The Lash (red/white cap) before going on to win The Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Chase at Cheltenham Racecourse on January 28, 2023 in Cheltenham, England. (Photo by Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images)
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CHELTENHAM, ENGLAND - JANUARY 28: Sean Bowen riding Back On The Lash (red/white cap) before going on to win The Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Chase at Cheltenham Racecourse on January 28, 2023 in Cheltenham, England. (Photo by Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images)
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CHELTENHAM, ENGLAND - JANUARY 28: Runners clear the
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CHELTENHAM, ENGLAND - JANUARY 28: Jonjo O
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CHELTENHAM, ENGLAND - JANUARY 28: At the start for The Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Chase at Cheltenham Racecourse on January 28, 2023 in Cheltenham, England. (Photo by Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images)
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CHELTENHAM, ENGLAND - JANUARY 28: At the start for The Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Chase at Cheltenham Racecourse on January 28, 2023 in Cheltenham, England. (Photo by Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images)
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CHELTENHAM, ENGLAND - JANUARY 28: Niall Houlihan riding Editeur Du Gite clear the last to win The Albert Bartlett Clarence House Chase at Cheltenham Racecourse on January 28, 2023 in Cheltenham, England. (Photo by Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images)
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CHELTENHAM, ENGLAND - JANUARY 28: Niall Houlihan riding Editeur Du Gite clear the last to win The Albert Bartlett Clarence House Chase at Cheltenham Racecourse on January 28, 2023 in Cheltenham, England. (Photo by Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images)
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CHELTENHAM, ENGLAND - JANUARY 28: Niall Houlihan riding Editeur Du Gite clear the last to win The Albert Bartlett Clarence House Chase at Cheltenham Racecourse on January 28, 2023 in Cheltenham, England. (Photo by Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images)
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CHELTENHAM, ENGLAND - JANUARY 28: Niall Houlihan riding Editeur Du Gite (red) clear the last to win The Albert Bartlett Clarence House Chase at Cheltenham Racecourse on January 28, 2023 in Cheltenham, England. (Photo by Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images)
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CHELTENHAM, ENGLAND - JANUARY 28: Niall Houlihan riding Editeur Du Gite (red) clear the last to win The Albert Bartlett Clarence House Chase at Cheltenham Racecourse on January 28, 2023 in Cheltenham, England. (Photo by Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images)
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CHELTENHAM, ENGLAND - JANUARY 28: Niall Houlihan riding Editeur Du Gite (red) clear the last to win The Albert Bartlett Clarence House Chase at Cheltenham Racecourse on January 28, 2023 in Cheltenham, England. (Photo by Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images)
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CHELTENHAM, ENGLAND - JANUARY 28: Niall Houlihan riding Editeur Du Gite (red) clear the last to win The Albert Bartlett Clarence House Chase at Cheltenham Racecourse on January 28, 2023 in Cheltenham, England. (Photo by Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images)
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CHELTENHAM, ENGLAND - JANUARY 28: Niall Houlihan riding Editeur Du Gite (red) clear the last to win The Albert Bartlett Clarence House Chase at Cheltenham Racecourse on January 28, 2023 in Cheltenham, England. (Photo by Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images)
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CHELTENHAM, ENGLAND - JANUARY 28: Niall Houlihan riding Editeur Du Gite (red) clear the last to win The Albert Bartlett Clarence House Chase at Cheltenham Racecourse on January 28, 2023 in Cheltenham, England. (Photo by Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images)
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CHELTENHAM, ENGLAND - JANUARY 28: Niall Houlihan riding Editeur Du Gite (red) clear the last to win The Albert Bartlett Clarence House Chase at Cheltenham Racecourse on January 28, 2023 in Cheltenham, England. (Photo by Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images)
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CHELTENHAM, ENGLAND - JANUARY 28: Harry Cobden riding Il Ridoto (R) clear the last to win The Paddy Power Cheltenham Countdown Podcast Handicap Chase at Cheltenham Racecourse on January 28, 2023 in Cheltenham, England. (Photo by Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images)
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CHELTENHAM, ENGLAND - JANUARY 28: Niall Houlihan riding Editeur Du Gite (red) on their way to winning The Albert Bartlett Clarence House Chase at Cheltenham Racecourse on January 28, 2023 in Cheltenham, England. (Photo by Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images)
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CHELTENHAM, ENGLAND - JANUARY 28: Harry Cobden riding Il Ridoto (R) clear the last to win The Paddy Power Cheltenham Countdown Podcast Handicap Chase at Cheltenham Racecourse on January 28, 2023 in Cheltenham, England. (Photo by Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images)
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CHELTENHAM, ENGLAND - JANUARY 28: A general view as runners pass the grandstands at Cheltenham Racecourse on January 28, 2023 in Cheltenham, England. (Photo by Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images)
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CHELTENHAM, ENGLAND - JANUARY 28: Harry Cobden riding Il Ridoto (R) clear the last to win The Paddy Power Cheltenham Countdown Podcast Handicap Chase at Cheltenham Racecourse on January 28, 2023 in Cheltenham, England. (Photo by Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images)
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CHELTENHAM, ENGLAND - JANUARY 28: Harry Cobden riding Il Ridoto (R) clear the last to win The Paddy Power Cheltenham Countdown Podcast Handicap Chase at Cheltenham Racecourse on January 28, 2023 in Cheltenham, England. (Photo by Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images)
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CHELTENHAM, ENGLAND - JANUARY 28: Derek Fox riding Ahoy Senor (red) clear the last to win The Paddy Power Cotswold Chase at Cheltenham Racecourse on January 28, 2023 in Cheltenham, England. (Photo by Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images)
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CHELTENHAM, ENGLAND - JANUARY 28: Derek Fox riding Ahoy Senor (red) clear the last to win The Paddy Power Cotswold Chase at Cheltenham Racecourse on January 28, 2023 in Cheltenham, England. (Photo by Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images)
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CHELTENHAM, ENGLAND - JANUARY 28: Derek Fox riding Ahoy Senor (red) clear the last to win The Paddy Power Cotswold Chase at Cheltenham Racecourse on January 28, 2023 in Cheltenham, England. (Photo by Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images)
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CHELTENHAM, ENGLAND - JANUARY 28: Derek Fox riding Ahoy Senor (red) clear the last to win The Paddy Power Cotswold Chase at Cheltenham Racecourse on January 28, 2023 in Cheltenham, England. (Photo by Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images)
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CHELTENHAM, ENGLAND - JANUARY 28: Johnny Charron riding Gold Tweet win The Dahlbury Stallions At Chapel Stud Cleeve Hurdle at Cheltenham Racecourse on January 28, 2023 in Cheltenham, England. (Photo by Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images)
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CHELTENHAM, ENGLAND - JANUARY 28: Derek Fox riding Ahoy Senor on their way to winning The Paddy Power Cotswold Chase at Cheltenham Racecourse on January 28, 2023 in Cheltenham, England. (Photo by Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images)
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CHELTENHAM, ENGLAND - JANUARY 28: Derek Fox riding Ahoy Senor (red) clear the last to win The Paddy Power Cotswold Chase at Cheltenham Racecourse on January 28, 2023 in Cheltenham, England. (Photo by Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images)
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CHELTENHAM, ENGLAND - JANUARY 28: Johnny Charron riding Gold Tweet win The Dahlbury Stallions At Chapel Stud Cleeve Hurdle at Cheltenham Racecourse on January 28, 2023 in Cheltenham, England. (Photo by Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images)

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CHELTENHAM, ENGLAND - JANUARY 28: Jonjo O

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CHELTENHAM, ENGLAND - JANUARY 28: Paddy Brennan riding Scriptwriter clear the last only to be caught on the run-in by Comfort Zone at Cheltenham Racecourse on January 28, 2023 in Cheltenham, England. (Photo by Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images)

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