Junior ran out a wide-margin winner of the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup to give David Pipe a second winner of the day at the Cheltenham Festival.
Pipe stated in the lead-up to the meeting that the Royal Ascot winner, he thought it was a good opportunity, and so to prove your leadership.
Deal was clearly a long way from half-Mail Jamie How Codd, who two years ago on character building win quickly refused fearing length and 24 scores as clear into the straight before powering a Went to the leaders – backed 100-30 favorite.
Faasel, winner stablemate, ran to fill the same place as another 12 months before they receive, while Deal Done with Galaxy Rock to hang on for third.
Pipe said: “He’s won at Royal Ascot, the Cheltenham Festival and it’s the National next. He won’t get in this year but he might go next year. He’s got the right attitude and he stays forever.
“Jamie has given him a fantastic ride. The one going off in front (Deal Done) probably helped us, and Faasel has run a cracker. It’s great when a plan comes off.
“He’s a tricky customer and you have to let him think he’s the boss. We booked Jamie some months ago and he’s been down to school him.”
Codd added: “I thought there was something coming to me, but David had said to keep going on him because he’s tough and he’ll keep going. He does everything right. He suits the build (for the National).
“Maybe he could go for an Irish National first over three and a half on good ground, but I’ll leave that up to them – I’ll do the steering. It’s nice to ride a horse that picks up when you give them a kick in the belly.”
