Celtic Native lifted her second big prize in 24 hours at Cheltenham this afternoon when posting a clear-cut victory in the £20,000 Mares' Only Handicap Hurdle.
Amateur rider David O'Meara sent the mare to the head of affairs two out and Philip Hobb's charge immediately lengthened clear of Ballet-K for an easy 12 lengths call.
Hobbs, however, remains in two minds how to campaign the admirable mare next term as he had considered sending her novice chasing but that may now be on hold as she concentrates on hurdling next autumn.
He explained: "I don't know if she would be good enough to have a tilt at the Stayers' Hurdle at the Festival next March so we may try and find out and could delay going over fences just to see how good she is."
Celtic Native had bounded away with another £20,000 hurdles prize over the same two miles five and a half furlong course yesterday and Hobbs' gamble to declare her for today's contest paid off handsomely with her task made easier by the late defection of Lady Rebecca.
"She came back to our Minehead stables last night and ate everything up. This morning there was no stiffness, bumps or cuts from yesterday so we decided to give her the thumbs up," declared the trainer.
"She is a real star as she did not cost a lot of money and is unbeaten in eight races now as her only defeat came here at the Festival on fast ground and that showed us she must have it soft" he added.
Lady Rebecca's trainer Venetia Williams did find the winner's enclosure following the victory of Scarlet Poppy who proved too tough for Tina Thyne in the Doncaster Bloodstock Sales/EBF Mares Only Flat Race (Final).
Almaravide sprang a 20-1 surprise on his British debut in the Endsleigh Insurance Novices Hurdle.
The ex-German four-year-old led after three out in the hands of Adrian Maguire and stretched to a 24-length verdict over Docklands Limo.
Martin Pipe's Take Control got the better of a driving finish with Churchstanton to lift the Concorde Classifile Handicap Hurdle by a length and a quarter under a typically strong ride from Tony McCoy.
Pipe said of the David Johnson owned winner: "He's had a good season winning four times and he'll probably be put away now and come back next term to go novice chasing."
