Keighley with Hung Jury verdict at Cheltenham

Local trainer Martin Keighley and his family roared home Hung Jury to win the Debenhams Amateur Jockeys’ Handicap Chase at Cheltenham.

With son Freddie now making good strides as a conditional rider, James King took over in the plate and gave the 10-year-old a patient ride to collect.

While the ground was perhaps not quite as testing as feared overnight, it nevertheless took some getting through but it proved no barrier to success for Hung Jury.

Winner of a hunter chase at the track in May, he was having just his sixth run under rules so remains unexposed in long distance chases.

King brought him into the race gradually but a slow jump at the last brought him back level with Cheerful Chap.

The 22-1 chance clearly has plenty of stamina, though, as he powered up the hill to win by three and three-quarter lengths from the staying-on Herakles Westwood.

Keighley said: “It was a game performance and he stays forever – he won a four-miler here in May.

“He’s got form pointing in real soft ground and all that rain that fell was perfect for him today. I thought if he was in with a chance coming down the hill then he would be very hard to beat as he would stay so strongly up the hill.

“He didn’t quite meet the last right, but he had plenty in hand and pulled away really well, so it was really impressive. It all went to plan today and James gave him a lovely ride.”

Hung Jury could now attempt to put his stamina to good use at Chepstow over the festive period.

Keighley added: “It might seem crazy but we think he could be a Welsh National horse as he goes in heavy ground and stays forever, it might be worth looking at.”