Skelton Duo Take Early Silverware

Jack Williams on the opening day of the Jumps season at Chepstow

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Chepstow opened the Jump season with the Silver Trophy Handicap Hurdle on October 12 and a triumph for the trainer and jockey combination of brothers Dan and Harry Skelton.

Flash The Steel, sent off at odds of 16/1 after a five-month break following his gallant fifth at Sandown at the end of April to Getaway Trump took the rise in class in his stride to win the Cotswold Stone Supplies Ltd-sponsored race by two lengths from Champagne Court, with Imperial Aura a further two lengths behind.

At three out Indefatigable and Imperial Aura attempted to press on for home, with Champagne Court, Flash The Steel and Alrightjack going after them.

Ballyandy was pitching in behind but was never closer. Imperial Aura flattened two out as Flash The Steel came alongsides to challenge.

On the long run to the last Champagne Court and Flash The Steel galloped on remorselessly, the latter rising two lengths ahead at the hurdle. It wasn’t the most fluent of jumps but it kept him ahead, and he ground out the victory as Champagne Court rallied gamely but could never be nearer than two lengths.

Imperial Aura stayed on for third, an error at two out more than likely blowing his chances for a top two finish.

Rest of the action

Fergal O’Brien loves a good party, especially if cake is involved, and it was his Jarveys Plate who spoiled it all for favourite backers as he reeled in the 4/5f Reserve Tank in the Low Cost Vans Novices Chase.

Running for the Robert Mottram Memorial Trophy in this Listed affair, jockey Paddy Brennan had him settled in the rear of the trio who went to post, content to let rivals Reserve Tank and the Paul Nicholls trained Posh Trish bowl along in front in this two and a half mile contest, where all contenders were making their chase debuts.