Winston wins under Cobden

Faye Bramley has already enjoyed one memorable moment at Cheltenham this season, but she will be hoping for another after Winston Junior struck gold at the third time of asking in the BetMGM Juvenile Hurdle at Ascot on Saturday.

Having filled the runner-up spot on his previous two starts at Fontwell and Sandown the Churchill gelding went one better when making all in impressive fashion under Harry Cobden.

The even money favourite barely had to get out of second gear after putting in an assured round of jumping before coasting home by three and three quarter lengths to fuel dreams of an appearance at the Cheltenham Festival.

Bramley said: “He was really good and I’m just glad that the horse has won as he has never won before.

“The conditions of the race really suited him and Harry (Cobden) gave him a great ride. I just thought don’t complicate things and just pop him out.

“He is a good jumper, and we have done loads of schooling with him. We just kept it simple and it was great to watch.

“I always thought I didn’t have him quite right before Cheltenham, but all the lads were there and they wanted him to run. I felt he was okay to run, but I just thought I need to get him settled.

“I’ve got a really good guy, Paul O’Neill, who rides out and helps me, and he has ridden him now every day and he has done wonders with him. He has just come together and it was lovely to watch.

“Sometimes I think it is never as easy as it looks, but on paper it should have been easy, and I’m delighted it worked out.”

Following the race Winston Junior hardened from 10-1 favourite into 8-1 favourite for the Hallgarten and Novum Wines Juvenile Handicap Hurdle at the Festival with Paddy Power.

And Bramley, who won the Support The Hunt Family Fund December Gold Cup with Glengouly last month, insisted that is likely to be next on the agenda for the four-year-old.

She added: “We were thinking of the Fred Winter, but we will see what is like when we get him home.

“That was a nice race for him, and he didn’t get pulled around like at Cheltenham and what not, so he should be fine for that.”