Races
2020/21 Season Review | The International Meeting: Chatham wins by a Street in Caspian Caviar
Cheltenham welcomed back racegoers for the International Meeting in December
For the first, and only, time in the Cheltenham 2020/21 campaign, fans were welcomed back to the enclosures at Prestbury Park for the International Meeting.
2,000 racegoers across each of the two days in Gloucestershire were safely included as part of the occasion, although it would be the only time that this number of footsteps would grace the turf at the Home Of Jumps Racing.
The week began perfectly for David Pipe and Tom Scudamore, who made the most of being well in at the weights to take the opener at the fixture, before Happygolucky secured a victory for the in-form pair of Kim Bailey and David Bass.
Rescheduled after its abandonment at its usual home of Huntingdon, the Peterborough Chase was hosted at Prestbury Park and went the way of Mister Fisher, who had finished fourth in the Marsh Novices’ Chase nine months earlier.
The Grade 3 Unibet Handicap Chase went the way of Kerry Lee’s Storm Control, while the former Willie Mullins trained Some Neck landed the Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Chase, denying Defi Des Carres in the dying stages.
On the opening day, there were also wins for Breffinboy, Madera Mist and Come On Teddy.
On the second and closing day, Irish raider Chatham Street Lad took the Caspian Caviar Gold Cup for Mick Winters under Darragh O’Keeffe in splendid fashion.
The Beneficial son was in isolation after the final flight to secure a 16-length romp in Gloucestershire and secure the feature contest of the day.
In the International Hurdle, Song For Someone outbattled Silver Streak in a titanic duel up the hill for Tom Symonds under Aidan Coleman.
Goshen, who unseated at the final flight in the Triumph at the Festival earlier in the year, failed to fire on his hurdles return.
Subsequent Grand Annual victor Sky Pirate secured a pre-Christmas success for Jonjo O’Neill, while Fusil Raffles beat Lieutenant Rocco and stable-mate Chantry House earlier in the card, albeit that form was overturned in March.
Triumph second Adagio won the Trial to land an opening-day race-double for Messers Pipe and Scudamore, while Richard Johnson claimed glory aboard Make Good for John McConnell.
The White Mouse drew the curtain on the 2020 International card for Bryony Frost and Lucy Wadham.
