Jatiluwih’s victory in the BetVictor Intermediate Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham on Saturday was trainer Philip Hobbs’ second of the day, giving him a 7.91/1 double after Thyme Hill won the first race.
It was Jatiluwih’s fifth consecutive win for Hobbs. The 11/4 favourite, who beat Falco Blitz by two and a half lengths, was bought from France by owner-rider David Maxwell – for whom it was a first Cheltenham success – in the spring.
Hobbs said: “We hoped he was still well handicapped – he might not be after today! I’m chuffed for all of us, and I didn’t know it was David’s first Cheltenham winner.
“He’ll probably go back chasing before very long. He’s won a chase in France already, and has won all of his five runs in England – I don’t know yet, but he could well go back chasing.”
David Maxwell could have a star on his hands as 11/4 favourite Jatiluwih made it five wins in as many starts in Britain with a convincing victory in the £25,000 BetVictor Intermediate Hurdle.
Maxwell steered the French-bred gelding to a two and a quarter-length success and also owns the five-year-old, who displayed an impressive turn of foot to wrap up proceedings in a matter of strides in the two miles and five furlong event.
Bred by Guy Cherel, Maxwell has always held Jatiluwih in high regard and he is hopeful of an exciting future with the son of Linda’s Lad.
Jatiluwih formed part of a 7.9/1 double for Philip Hobbs following the victory of Thyme Hill (11/8 favourite) in the opening Gr2 Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle.
He said: “Jatiluwih is a total machine. Guy Petit found him for me in France and he said ‘This is a proper horse, mark my words’- I wasn’t so sure, but he was 100 per cent right. He has done nothing wrong in the UK and is five from five now.
“I’m unimportant in the scheme of this sport, the horses are what matters in the sport and what make it such a wonderful sport. They are such noble animals and, when you get a horse that tries like he does, my goodness, you just want to give them your all in response.
“This is why I love doing it – I think it is such a privilege to be able to do it, so I owe it to my family. They put up with a lot of hours on the road and a lot of hours at racecourses. When you sit on a horse like this, it makes it all worth it.”
