Danny McMenamin did the steering on Nells Son© Photo Healy Racing
Locally-trained Nells Son ran out a game winner of the Weatherbys nhstallions.co.uk Graduation Chase at Carlisle after Kalif Du Berlais suffered a heavy fall on his debut over fences.
Paul Nicholls’ heavily-backed gelding, a three-time winner over hurdles, including the Grade Two Adonis at Kempton, was sent off the 4-11 favourite at the Cumbrian track.
He put in a solid round of jumping before paying for one mistake with a nasty-looking fall four fences from home, with both the horse and jockey Harry Cobden thankfully getting to their feet.
The fall hampered Nells Son, leaving the Dan Skelton-trained Unexpected Party clear and he was shaken up to take the final obstacle a length in front.
However, Unexpected Party was slowly reeled in by 12-1 chance Nells Son on the run-in, with Nicky Richards’ nine-year-old getting his nose in front in the final 100 yards to come home a length clear.
Gavin Cromwell’s Irish raider Path d’Oroux was the last of the three finishers, 13 lengths adrift.
Richards will take his time with Nells Son, with an assignment at Cheltenham next month a potential target.
He said: “I knew he was in grand order. Obviously, he was wrong (at the weights) with a few of them, but he wasn’t that far wrong.
“He settled into a lovely rhythm and it panned out lovely for us. I don’t know if we’d have beaten Mr Nicholls’ horse, but we’ll take a nice prize and he’s had his day in the sun today anyway.
“He’s a horse that probably wants to be fresh in himself, so we probably won’t rush forward. He acts on a bit of soft ground as well, so we’re not forced to do anything with him for six weeks or so.
“We’ll freshen him up nicely and there might be a race for him at the December meeting at Cheltenham or something like that.
“We’ll just let the dust settle and make a plan, but he’s very versatile track-wise and he’s a very consistent horse, so hopefully he’ll have another nice day.”
Nicholls later posted on X: “Thank you for everyone’s concerns but thankfully Kalif Du Berlais is fine and on his way home after a full veterinary check.”
