POIGNANT WIN FOR FESTIVAL HOPE CONTI

LIVE CONTI staked his claim for a place in Dan Skelton's Cheltenham Festival squad with a timely success yesterday.

- MELISSA JONES

The JCB Triumph Hurdle entry was the final horse late owner John Hales sourced from bloodstock agent Anthony Bromley.

Hales (right), who was 85 when he died last month, shared Live Conti with friends Sir Alex Ferguson, Ged Mason and Paul Hogarth.

At short odds of 1-9f, anything but a win at Wetherby would have been a surprise under Skelton's brother Harry.