Djelo gobbled up the Huntingdon mud to turn what looked like a competitive renewal of the Trustatrader Peterborough Chase into a procession.
Narrowly beaten by JPR One when favorite to make a comeback in the Haldon Gold Cup at Exeter last month, the Venetia Williams-trained six-year-old was given a 2-1 chance to go one better and could hardly have been more impressive in hand. by Charlie Deutsch.
After taking the lead from Sarah Humphrey’s stable star Nickle Back for much of the two-and-a-half mile contest, Djelo was allowed to move forward on the straight back and in fact the result was not in doubt. .
With Nickle Back stopping quickly and Minella Drama never threatening to hit seriously, it was left to Protektorat (6-4 favourite) and Ginny’s Destiny to chase Djelo from the home turn, but while both were working hard, the leader was still pushing without any pressure.
The Williams runner safely negotiated the remaining two fences and came home almost in the bridle, with Protektorat about six lengths back in second at the line and Ginny’s Destiny a further seven and a half lengths back in third.
Coral Djelo rates at 12-1 for the Ryanair Chase at the Cheltenham Festival in March.
“I’m so excited. I’m excited for Pete Davies his owner, for Charlie who has ridden him beautifully and for the horse himself most of all,” Williams told Racing TV.
“It was a great performance. Going to the last down the back, I looked back and thought ‘they’re all in trouble now’. He had finished behind the second horse before but this was a complete turnaround today.
“He was third at the Cheltenham Festival in the Turners (Novices’ Chase) and won three races last year. He’s progressed since turning his attention to fences and let’s hope that continues.”
When asked about her future plans, she added: “I don’t know, ask me tomorrow!
“I’d like to think we have two great flag-bearers in the three-mile class with Royale Pagaille and L’Homme Presse and it’s great that this horse is moving up to anywhere near that level now.
“He’s been running on handicaps so far and there’s always the potential for more of that, but he’ll be going up quite a bit now.”
