Dettori-bred Dodging Bullets hits Champion Chase target
Cheltenham (United Kingdom) (AFP) - Dodging Bullets, bred by flat jockey great Frankie Dettori, proved a revelation as he claimed the scalps of joint favourites Sire de Grugy and Sprinter Sacre in Wednesday's Champion Chase.
All the build-up to the second day highlight at the Cheltenham Festival was on whether brilliant 2013 winner Sprinter Sacre could return to reclaim his crown after serious heart problems.
Or if Sire de Grugy could defend his title after landing the two mile Grade 1 showpiece in the absence of Nicky Henderson's star 12 months ago.
But the 5-2 market leaders were totally upstaged as Dodging Bullets (9-2) emerged from a three-way battle up the hill with runner-up Sommersby (33-1) and the front-running Special Tiara (18-1).
The fast-improving chaser was trained by Paul Nicholls and ridden by Sam Twiston-Davies, and bred by Dettori, who was on hand to celebrate the "unbelievable" outcome.
The Italian rider added of his seven-year-old: "It was meant to be the Derby, but this is the second best!
"Sam gave him a fantastic ride. He jumped like a stag. My legs were shaking a little bit. What a horse."
Sire de Grugy came in fourth, with Sprinter Sacre pulled up before the last.
This was Nicholls' second winner at the festival. Britain's champion trainer suffered a blank opening day but finally getting off the mark with Aux Petits Soins half an hour before Dodging Bullets.
Nicholls said: "That was absolutely awesome. The progress he's made has been absolutely phenomenal. He's got better and better.
"He should have been favourite on form. I couldn't see why the other two (Sprinter Sacre and Sire De Grugy) were ahead of him in the market."
Willie Mullins, the master Irish trainer who cleaned up on Tuesday, was left without a runner as he had to pull out Champagne Fever on Wednesday morning.
The third-favourite was feeling the worse for wear after being bitten by a stablemate on the lip en route to the Gloucestershire track from Ireland.
Mullins though still had a day to remember, when the hugely impressive Don Polis took the trainer's 2015 Festival tally to five in the RSA Chase.
Owned by Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary the 13-8 favourite is now among the main contenders for next year's Gold Cup.
"We're a bit numb. The week has gone way above our expectations," said Mullins.
Don Polis was ridden by Bryan Cooper, who a year ago to the day at Cheltenham broke his leg badly in a fall.
"To get a winner this early (in the meeting) is great. I've been supported by great people," said the rider from Northern Ireland.
Dettori wasn't the only flat racing figure to make his presence felt at the Cotswolds track.
Dermot Weld, the veteran classic and Melbourne Cup-winning Irish handler, saddled Windsor Park to lift the opening novice hurdle.
Royal Ascot beckons for the 9-2 shot, with Weld suggesting: "He could be heading for a Gold Cup (at Ascot), but today was the day. He's a good-ground horse, the drying weather suited him well."
Nicholls' Qualando made it three for the west country yard in the juvenile handicap hurdle later on the card.
