English/Ire
Johnny's Jury delivers Bartlett joy for Snowden and Sheehan
Johnny's Jury took a sizeable step forward to run out a gutsy winner of the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham on Friday.
The six-year-old son of Jukebox Jury had shown promise on his sole start over hurdles for Nicky Henderson before making a smooth winning debut for new trainer Jamie Snowden at Exeter in January.
He supplemented his Exeter success with another victory over timber at Carlisle but stepping up to Grade 1 level, Jamie Snowden's charge was sent off a 20/1 chance in the hands of Gavin Sheehan.
Victory didn't look likely for much of the contest as he found himself well-back and driven along at the top of the hill. However, Gavin Sheehan's persistence soon began to pay off and after passing a whole host of rivals to move into contention late on, he stayed on stoutly inside the final furlong to see off Fruit De Mer in the driving rain.
The Passing Wife ran a race full of promise for Gavin Cromwell back in third, but Willie Mullins' well-fancied Grade 1 winner Doctor Steinberg faded tamely having raced too keenly on the front end.
Snowden said: "It's fabulous, just wonderful. We never planned to be at the back, but it was a bit of a mess at the start once again. He's travelled through the race and jumped great and there's no better man than Gavin.
"We've gone through a lot of things over the last few years and it's wonderful to have another Grade One winner and certainly at Cheltenham it's amazing.
"He's a very nice horse; he came from Nicky (Henderson) who highly recommended him and he's done nothing but improve over the course of the last year.
"It was a massive step up from two miles one (furlong) to three miles, but he's a half-brother to Appreciate It so we thought his stamina was not in question and thankfully it worked out.
"We've had some wonderful times, winning the Hennessy (Coral Gold Cup) with Datsalrightgino and Grade 1 winners at Aintree and other big races, but it's tough.
"At this place it's tough to win and it's tough to run well. We came here with five bullets to fire and five really nice horses and haven't got a look in, which makes results like this so special."
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