OXFORDSHIRE'S Simply The Betts has claimed a memorable Cheltenham Festival success.
The Harry Whittington-trained 10-3 favourite, under Gavin Sheehan, triumphed in the Brown Advisory & Merriebelle Stable Plate Handicap Chase this afternoon.
The seven-year-old, trained at Sparsholt, near Wantage, was leading from the start alongside Siru Du Lac.
Simply The Betts stayed in contention and took advantage when his rival fell in the closing stages.
He held on to win the two-and-a-half mile Grade 3 prize, with Happy Diva second and Mister Whitaker third.
Sheehan told ITV: “He jumped unbelievably and pulled it out of the bag. I know my grandfather was looking down on me there.”
Winning owner Andrew Books added: “This is named after a good friend of ours who died of cancer a couple of years ago so that will mean the world to their family.”
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