Latenightpass used the benefit of his experience from the November Meeting when second over the cross-country fences to land Glenfarclas Crystal Cup Cross Country Handicap Chase at Cheltenham on Friday.
The 7/2 favourite, trained by Dan Skelton, was only on a mark three pound higher than when he finished runner-up behind Foxy Jacks last month and the nine-year-old took full advantage of the light weight. Under a confident ride from Gina Andrews, Latenightpass hit the front at the twenty-fourth fence and went clear to beat Franky Du Berlais by four lengths.
"I thought coming away from last time that he acquitted himself very well, but to be fair I don't really know the horse that well," said trainer Dan Skelton.
"Tom (Ellis) trains him, and throughout all this Bridget (Skelton) has done all the work on him. It has just been my name on the licence. He has been a massive addition to the team. Not all of them take to it, but he did. We jumped (around here) in between races and he loved it. That gave me reason to think that he should at least back his run up. I don't know much about the ground for him, but perhaps it suited him being a little softer.
"I think (coming here in between races) is vital because confidence is vital in this race. They have to switch off and know what they are doing and then switch off to get the trip. In my opinion that is how you win that race. He dragged her to the front, but she knows him so well. She sat on him until the last, and that is someone who knows their horse well and he scooted away then.
"I'd say it is blindingly obvious (to have a go at the Grand National). I wouldn't say he was superior there as you have the likes of Galvin and Minella Indo who you meet off level weights at The Festival. I think it is very acceptable to come there for The Festival to run against them without the expectation that you are going to beat them off level weights. I think Silver Birch run in the cross-country race before winning the Grand National. I'm not saying we should be favourite for the Grand National, but I think he more than deserves his chance.
"He has got experience (over the Aintree fences), he stays the trip well. When you come out of hunter chases you don't know if you belong in a higher grade. I think he has probably now suggested twice that is the truth."
Paddy Power introduced Latenightpass into the Grand National market at 40/1.
