The feature race of the afternoon the Desert Orchid Chase (sponsored by Stan James) was won by the German-trained Fiepes Shuffle who has been given a quote of 16-1 by Stan James for the Champion Chase at the Cheltenham festival. The runner-up Petit Robin has also been shortened to 12-1 (from 14).

Starluck is now the 6-1 (from 12) second favourite for the Triumph Hurdle after a facile victory in the opening stanjamesuk.com Juvenile Novices’ hurdle.

The French-trained Original continued the international theme by winning the Stan James Wayward Lad Novices’ Chase and is 20-1 (first show) for the Arkle.

Champion Chase, Cheltenham. 11th March 2009. EW: ¼ 1,2,3 Masterminded 4/7 (from 4/6), Voy Por Ustedes 8, Petit Robin 12 (from 14), Twist Magic 12 (from 8), Takeroc 16 (12), Fiepes Shuffle 16 20/1 bar.

Triumph Hurdle, Cheltenham. 13th March 2009. EW: ¼ 1,2,3,4 Zaynar 4 (from 5,) Starluck 6 (from 12), Lethal Weapon 14, Tharawaat 14, Pepite De Sol 16, 20/1 bar.

Arkle Trophy, Cheltenham. 10th March 2009. EW: ¼ 1,2,3 Tatenen 5, Kalahari King 10, Follow The Plan 10, Free World 14, Araldur 14, Doctor David 14, 16/1 bar.