HIGHS AND L'EAUS

Dan boasts a belter in bid to land trainers' title as gelding hits Champion Chase trail

- BY GARRY OWEN

L'EAU DU SUD (4.0) can wash away his rivals in the Champion Chase on day two of the Cheltenham Festival.

Every winner counts for title-chasing Dan Skelton and this star may be his best chance of the week.

A useful hurdler, the gelding loved tackling fences when bolting up on debut over 2m 3f at Stratford in October 2024.

He handled this track and trip superbly when hammering Western Zephyr in the Grade Two Arkle Trial the following month. The grey then made his Grade One breakthrough by caning Touch Me Not in the Henry VIII at Sandown.

He underlined his Arkle case with an efficient defeat of Rubaud in the Kingmaker at Warwick 13 months ago.

But he was not suited to the way the race was run when disappointing in the Arkle itself.

The eight-year-old was feeling the effects of those runs when third to Kalif Du Berlais at Aintree last April. But he relished returning here when slamming Jonbon in the Shloer Chase four months ago.

He was not disgraced again when third to II Etait Temps in the Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown in December.

The strong traveller has been saved for this race since so can score at his favourite track.