Cheltenham results today: Kingofthefrontier stuns Grade 2 rivals at 20/1 as JPR One defies 12st at Prestbury Park

Kingofthefrontier blew the Grade 2 Sharp Novices’ Hurdle wide open at Cheltenham on Friday, landing the feature on the opening day of the Showcase meeting at 20/1 for John Dawson and Conor O’Farrell. Half an hour later, Joe Tizzard’s JPR One lumped top weight of 12st to victory in the £100,000 handicap chase, with defending champion Calico back in fourth.

Here are the Cheltenham results from day one at Prestbury Park.

Kingofthefrontier crowned in the Sharp at 20/1

On paper, Dawson’s five-year-old had a tall standard to meet. He was the lowest-rated runner in the field on an official mark of 112 and arrived with just two runs to his name, the latest a two-and-a-half-mile National Hunt maiden win at Southwell in June. Nevertheless, he was crowned king of this particular frontier in some style, creeping into contention from towards the rear after two out, challenging just after the last and running on strongly up the hill to score by two-and-a-quarter lengths, despite hanging right in the closing stages.

This will need at least a second look before the form is taken entirely at face value, as only three-and-a-half lengths separated the winner from fourth-placed Spanish Darling, another 20/1 shot. That said, the manner in which O’Farrell’s mount came from off the pace to run down the market leaders bodes well, and he could have plenty more to offer back over further.

Planters Punch and Cooltobecareless come up short

Nicky Henderson’s Planters Punch arrived with a perfect record, but the market told a story, as the unbeaten gelding drifted from 7/4 earlier in the week to 4/1 at the off. He travelled into contention two out and led at the last, only to be swamped by the winner on the run-in, and it took a late rally under Nico de Boinville to grab second close home. Taking on older rivals for the first time, it was far from a disgrace, and Henderson’s four-year-old is easily forgiven a first defeat.

The 13/8 favourite Cooltobecareless was the bigger disappointment. Dan Skelton’s runner had every chance on the flat after challenging at the last, but he hung right once asked for maximum effort and found no more, losing second to the Henderson runner in the final strides.

JPR One defies top weight in the 3.35pm

Class told in the £100,000 handicap chase, as Tizzard‘s stable star carried 12st to victory off a mark of 158. Brendan Powell had the nine-year-old up with the pace from the off, and after hitting the front three out, he was driven out on the run-in to repel the late surge of Lucinda Russell and Michael Scudamore’s Traprain Law by three-quarters-of-a-length, with Soul Icon a length further back in third.

It was a deserved reward for a horse with no shortage of class, having won the Scottish Champion Chase and come within a length of a Grade 1 breakthrough in the Celebration Chase at Sandown last season. The 3/1 joint-favourite was also one of Joe Napier’s three best bets for the day. His fellow joint-favourite Calico, who won this race 12 months ago, moved into second after three out, but a sloppy jump at the last ended his challenge and the Skelton runner faded into fourth.

The rest of the Cheltenham results

Gordon Elliott and Jack Kennedy plundered a double on the card. Even-money favourite Bowensonfire got off the mark over fences in the 1.50pm novices’ chase, wearing down the gallant front-runner Passing Diamond on the run-in to score by a length-and-three-quarters, and Cosmos d’Ainay struck at 11/1 in the 4.10pm novices’ hurdle, three lengths clear of Joseph O’Brien’s 11/8 shot Kingstonian. Willie Mullins’ 5/4 favourite Mr Hollywood could only manage fourth.

Earlier, Fergal O’Brien’s Frontier Prince (10/1) got up on the line to pip East India Express by a short head in a bumping finish to the opening handicap hurdle, before Martin Keighley‘s Continuance (6/1) made all and drew clear after the last to land the conditional jockeys’ handicap hurdle by four-and-a-half lengths.

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