Soldier Reeves strikes, with Ambiente Friendly fourth on hurdling debut

Soldier Reeves sparkled in the mallardjewellers.com Maiden Hurdle, as last year’s Derby runner-up Ambiente Friendly had to settle for fourth on his hurdling bow at Cheltenham.

Dan and Harry Skelton’s superb run of form was continuing with the 14-1 winner, who prevailed by a half a length on what was his own hurdling debut, with Gaelic Pride in second and Bespoke Tailor the third horse home.

The James Owen-trained Ambiente Friendly, meanwhile, an 11-2 chance under Sam Twiston-Davies, was faced with a very different contest to his 2024 effort behind the much-vaunted City Of Troy at Epsom. He led with a healthy advantage for a long way before tiring, although to his credit he did not drop away and kept trying.

Of Soldier Reeves, Dan Skelton said: “He was way too keen in bumpers and if he ran in bumpers for much longer he was going to learn to over-race. Even the at the last there, he over-jumped. He’s got a lot to learn, but he’s got a big engine. I thought he could win, I didn’t necessarily think we would, but I thought he could.

“I think we’ll stick at two miles for as long as we dare, really. I want to teach him to race properly.”