BEWLEYS BERRY had his Cheltenham Festival odds slashed after a highly-impressive debut over fences in the Harry Atkinson Memorial Beginners' Chase at Wetherby yesterday.
After Howard Johnson's imposing chestnut had jumped impeccably for Graham Lee to beat Briery Fox by 12 lengths, VC Bet cut his price for the Royal & SunAlliance Chase to 10-1 from 16-1.
Owner Graham Wylie was delighted with the performance.
He said: "That was a very good start.
"Graham said he was a bit worried by a loose horse, but apart from that he said he was never off the bridle and the horse has a big engine. He said the horse loves his jumping."
* Bruce Hobbs, who won the Grand National on Battleship as a 17-year-old in 1938 before becoming a successful trainer on the Flat, has died aged 84.
Hobbs passed away in Kingfisher House in Newmarket, having had his left leg amputated earlier this year after efforts to bypass a blocked artery failed.
