Cheltenham Festival 2017 – Cause Of Causes brings up the Festival hat-trick as he lands the cross-country chase
Cause Of Causes and Jamie Codd had previously won the National Hunt Chase in 2015, the Kim Muir last year and were once again victorious at Prestbury Park
CAUSE OF CAUSES claimed the third Festival success of his career with a tremendous display in the Cross-Country Chase.
French raider Amazing Comedy led to the second-last, but was soon swamped by a trio of JP McManus-owned runners and Bless The Wings.
Gordon Elliott's Cause Of Causes picked up to lead at the final obstacle under Jamie Codd and galloped up the hill for a nine-length success over stablemate Bless The Wings.
Cantlow, the 9-4 favourite, was third ahead of Auvergnat in fourth.
Elliott said: "He seems to come well at Cheltenham every year.
"He's an absolute superstar and we love him to bits. Jamie also gave him a great ride.
"It was a great result as we also had the second.
"If you have a plan, you have to try and do it right.
"We've had an unbelievable week. It's been a dream come true. "
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Elliott went on: "We've put a lot of work into this horse over the past few weeks to get him right.
"To win here three times in a row is something else.
"All we were thinking of was March and to have the one-two in the race is brilliant. It's just unfortunate for Bless The Wings to be second again, but it's brilliant."
Codd said: "He's run at four Festivals now, been second once and won three times.
"He's a great little horse, a real dinger, he's been marvellous for my career.
"He ran in January here and took a while to warm to it. He came back in February when the sales were on and he schooled really well, he also schooled well this morning and I thought he'd run a big race.
"He's an idle little horse but quick when you need him to be.
"I sit in JT (McNamara's) place in the weighing room and he was king of the banks so to finally win one at last, I'm over the moon."