McConnell and Curling saddle first Cheltenham winners Seddon ran out a cosy winner of the Magner's Plate Handicap Chase at Cheltenham this afternoon to give trainer John McConnell a well deserved first Cheltenham Festival winner. The Stamullen handler had saw his charge Mahler Mission crash out two from home when leading in the National Hunt Chase on Tuesday but there was no drama this time. Ben Harvey gave Seddon a ultra-confident ride, tracking the leaders before hitting the front on the run to the second last. He asked his mount to kick on before the final fence and the 20/1 shot galloped on strongly up the hill to post a two-length win over Fugitif. Harvey was also partnering his first Festival winner and he said:- "It was very straightforward really, he jumped and travelled. "I had a box seat the whole way and was just able to enjoy it. He picked up between the second last and the last and hit the line very well, I couldn’t believe how well he travelled. "It’s not quite sunk in but it’s very special — a dream come true." Angels Dawn made it five on the day for the Irish raiders when running out a game winner of the concluding Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup. The Sam Curling-trained mare travelled well to take it up at the second last in the three-mile-two contest but had to dig deep in the closing stages. Stumptown pushed her hard on the run-in but the 10/1 shot found plenty for Pa King to record a neck success, giving another trainer/jockey combination their first taste of Cheltenham success.
