David Bass celebrated his first victory at The Cheltenham Festival last year aboard Darna in the Brown Advisory & Merriebelle Stable Plate on St Patrick's Thursday.
It had been a long time coming for the 27-year-old, who was born in Northamptonshire on June 30, 1988. He was runner-up on French Opera in the 2010 Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Chase as a 7lb claimer and went close on several other occasions, including when teaming up with Kentucky Hyden to finish second in the 2014 JCB Triumph Hurdle.
"I had hit the crossbar quite at The Festival quite a few times and it was great to finally get one on the board," reflected Bass.
"Last year was my sixth Cheltenham Festival and it was more of a relief than anything.
"It was massively important to me because the whole year revolves around Cheltenham - we ride every day in the hope that you will be getting on a horse good enough to take you to The Festival. There is no place like it, especially when you ride a winner. It is a wonderful feeling."
Trained by Kim Bailey, Darna was sent off an unconsidered 33/1 chance after two moderate runs over the course and distance on testing ground. Bass had the then nine-year-old well-placed throughout and, after taking it up two out, the pair repelled warm favourite Monetaire by a length and a quarter in the handicap chase over two miles and five furlongs on March 12, 2015.
"I was not sure what to expect from Darna because I had never ridden him before," recalled Bass. "Kim (Bailey) also had Un Ace in the race who was second favourite. I had won on Un Ace at Doncaster earlier in the season and he looked to have a really good chance.
"To be fair to Darna, he had some decent form in the book. He had also had a wind operation and the better ground was a big help to him so he probably should not have been the price he was."
Eleven months on and with The Festival just over a month away, Bass has his sights set on further Cheltenham glory with the unbeaten Barters Hill in the Grade One Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle (2.50pm, Friday, March 18). The six-year-old is the clear 5/2 ante-post market leader for the three-mile contest.
Trained by Ben Pauling near Bourton-on-the-Water in Gloucestershire, Barters Hill carried all before him in four bumpers last season.
Barters Hills has continued his winning sequence over hurdles this season and is unbeaten in three races over obstacles. The six-year-old provided both trainer and jockey with their first Grade One triumph in the Challow Novices' Hurdle at Newbury on December 29 and he is now unbeaten in seven races following success in the Grade Two Albert Bartlett (River Don) Novices' Hurdle at Doncaster on January 30, his first attempt at three miles.
"I can't wait to get back on Barters Hill," said Bass. "He is just a very good horse. His profile is unbelievable and I cannot think of many horses who have done what he has at this stage of their career.
"To win four bumpers and three novice hurdles, including very good races at Aintree, Newbury and Doncaster is some achievement and the form is working out everywhere.
"I schooled him on Tuesday (February 9) and he felt really, really good. I am very keen to go for the Albert Bartlett. He is not a slow horse by any means and I know Ben gets quite annoyed when people call him that.
"It just takes a bit of persuasion to get Barters Hill into top gear, but he has got a good cruising speed and stays really well which is what you need for those championship races over three miles. I think he has an outstanding chance in the Albert Bartlett.
"I was actually delighted with him at Doncaster. He got an easy lead in his first two hurdles runs at Huntingdon and Newbury whereas this time he had a horse on girth the whole way. He was just doing enough and was never letting a horse get past him. I felt we learnt a lot and he probably needed a race like that before Cheltenham just to harden him up.
"He will never be impressive and just does what he needs to do - you can see that from his bumper performances. I thought he could be something special when we beat Buveur D'Air in the Listed bumper at Newbury. Buveur D'Air is a very talented horse with loads of pace and he just could not get past.
"Everything is going really well at the moment and obviously Barters Hill has played a part in that. A lot jockeys will tell you that you need a flagship horse and I am lucky enough to be riding for some very good trainers.
"Kim has got some nice horses and I ride some good ones for Ben and Nicky Henderson. I am in a fortunate position."
Bass, who is approaching the 250-winner mark, enjoyed his best campaign with 46 victories last season and is on target to beat that total, with 41 winners this season up to and including February 10.
Other mounts at The Festival the rider is looking forward to include Charbel (Kim Bailey), who scored impressively at Musselburgh last week, last year's OLBG Mares' Hurdle head runner-up Polly Peachum (Nicky Henderson), and Darna.
Bass continued: "Charbel is another horse I am excited about. I was disappointed when he was beaten at Doncaster, but he bounced back with a really good run behind Yanworth and was really quite impressive at Musselburgh at the weekend.
"He is entitled to go to Cheltenham and will probably go for the Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle (1.30pm Tuesday, March 15). I made the running on him at Musselburgh because it is a sharp track and we know he stays. Stamina is his forte but he isn't slow and I can see him running a big race.
"I will hopefully ride Polly Peachum in the OLBG Mares' Hurdle (4.10pm, Tuesday, March 15). I don't know what Willie Mullins is doing with Annie Power or Vroum Vroum Mag but Polly Peachum is really tough and consistent mare.
"She won at Sandown in testing around, but ideally wants better ground as she showed when just touched off at The Festival last year.
"Darna will probably go back for the race he won last year (4.10pm, Thursday, March 17). He is quite fragile and got another niggle after his run in the Paddy Power Gold Cup.
"He will go straight to Cheltenham now and is only 4lb higher than last year. Hopefully, he can show his best form again."
