Racing: Sea air puts wind back in Flagship's sails

Tingle Creek Chase: Another change of stable helps star chaser cruise to historic third success in two-mile feature

They used to say the air at Skegness was bracing; perhaps Minehead should now adopt the slogan. Flagship Uberalles, the fallen idol of the two-mile brigade, showed his appreciation for seaside scenery and lungfuls of ozone with an unprecedented third victory in the Tingle Creek Chase here yesterday.

His four-length defeat of Edredon Bleu put the big-race spotlight firmly on Somerset-based trainer Philip Hobbs and one of his young supersub jockeys – this time Robert Widger – for the second successive Saturday.

The win was surely a matter of some relief for Hobbs, the victor's third trainer in as many seasons. The seven-year-old is a hugely talented horse but one clearly with physical vicissitudes and, after conquering all as a novice, a series of disappointing performances punctuated by his Tingle Creek triumphs led to men of the calibre of first Paul Nicholls and then Noel Chance falling from grace in the eyes of owner Michael Krysztofiak. The apparent capriciousness of the wealthy English-born, naturalised American meant that few envied Hobbs the task of reviving the fortunes of the big, handsome gelding.

But so far, so good. Flagship Uberalles responded with all his old enthusiasm as Widger started to get serious in his pursuit of bold-jumping favourite Edredon Bleu and Fadalko down the back straight and, despite appearing to be under pressure, slipped easily past the leaders on the penultimate turn and jumped the third last, the Pond fence, two lengths clear. Up the famous finishing hill and on his ideal soft ground, both of which bring his stamina into play, he extended his advantage over Edredon Bleu to four lengths at the line.

The winner and runner-up, who found the going too sticky, are now vying for favouritism for the Queen Mother Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival. Flagship Uberalles is unlikely to run before that. "I think the lesson of history is that he runs best when fresh," said Hobbs. "He has had his problems, but he is a sweet horse to have anything to do with. He had plenty of work under his belt coming here and it was good to see him jump and travel so well."

This was a first Grade One win for Hobbs, whose Sandhill Stables at Bilbrook are within hacking distance of the Bristol Channel and whose feats have oft been overshadowed by West Country rivals Nicholls and Martin Pipe. It was also a biggest career win for the 22-year-old Widger who, like his housemate Paul Flynn in the Hennessy Gold Cup a week previously, was given his chance in the spotlight by injury to stable jockey Richard Johnson. The Waterford-born Widger, attached to Hobbs for five years, comes from a thorough horsy heritage. His great-uncle Joe won the 1895 Grand National and he himself was an Irish pony showjumping champion before turning to racing. "It's so good to get the chance to ride a horse like this," he said. "It's like driving a car with seven gears instead of four. I spoke to Richard about how to ride him and he said to commit well before two out and keep getting after him, because he'd keep finding plenty."

The top seniors and juniors in the two-mile division traditionally compete just over half an hour apart on this day and Flagship Uberalles and Co may just be looking over their shoulders after Fondmort took his field apart in the Henry VIII Novices' Chase.

The handsome Nick Henderson-trained five-year-old made fine amends for an unlucky, slithering landing at Cheltenham last time. His momentum across the close, tricky railway fences at the end of the back straight here was such that he took just 10 strides, as opposed to most horses' 11, between the second and third and a mighty leap at the penultimate obstacle gained more lengths in the air. He came home unchallenged, by eight lengths from Returning, who had been unbeaten in her previous four runs.

"I don't know what he did at Cheltenham," said Henderson, "but I hope he doesn't do it again in the Arkle in March. As usual, he didn't appear to be doing much in front today. It was only when you looked at what was happening behind that you realised he was."

Another young jockey, Barry Keniry, had his moment of glory when he won the William Hill Handicap Hurdle on bottom weight Rob Leach, beating Tony McCoy on the favourite, Image de Marque, by a neck. "I didn't realise it was him until I pulled up and heard him effing and blinding," said the delighted Irishman.

Racegoers here were actually lucky to see any sport after a power cut blacked out the surrounding area. Before the mains came back on line, proceedings got under way courtesy of a series of generators and, appropriately, the first winner of the day was Hurricane Lamp.

At Chepstow, the 1999 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner See More Business lay agonisingly still for several minutes after falling at the second-last in the Rehearsal Chase when upsides eventual winner Arctic Camper. With the dread screens erected, huge cheers erupted from the stands when the old hero, only badly winded, scrambled to his feet.

At Punchestown today, Sackville has the chance to take outright Gold Cup favouritism from First Gold when he essays his toughest assignment yet in the John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase. The bay son of Satco has only three rivals, but horses of the calibre of Florida Pearl, Rince Ri and Native Upmanship, all Grade One winners, will be no pushover.