Giant victory

One horse provides connections with a victory that they will remember, while another relishes a marathon trip

- LUCY ELDER

Worcestershire, Chaddesley Corbett, Worcs

ENCOUNTER A GIANT eclipsed his rivals to win the historic Lady Dudley Cup with a patient ride by Henry Crow.

The aptly named "lovely gentle giant" delivered to give Tom Britten his second-ever pointing victory as a trainer, and with it bag one of the sport's most prestigious titles.

"Henry gave him a really good ride - he's very good at reading the form of horses and very good tactically. He's a horse you need to get into a rhythm and Henry did that beautifully," said Tom.

Bradley Gibbs set the pace early on with eventual runner-up Looksnowtlikebrian, with Henry sitting patiently before making his move down the home straight. Encounter A Giant responded, pinging the last two fences and adding his name to the list of winners.

Tom, who works for Alastair Ralph, was saddling the 11-year-old Kalanisi son for his boss's parents - marking their first win in the race - and Mike Fothergill.

"The Cheltenham evening meeting is probably now on the radar," added Tom.

Molly Landau has formed a prosperous partnership with Thegallantway, the pair notching their fourth win from five starts in the ladies' open.

"He's been a very good horse for me," said Molly, 18, riding for trainer Jenny Gordon. The 10-year-old, by Stowaway, is "not the easiest of rides at home", but relaxes in his races and is "thriving" on the switch to pointing.

He was bought by Anthony Ward-Thomas from Fergal O'Brien and has since been sold to yard sponsor, Julian Head.

"I sat him in behind Barney Dwan, who finished second, and we were miles clear of the other two runners the whole way. At about four or five fences out, I kicked on. It was a bit firm for him at Kimble - but he loved that softer ground," she said.