Freddie Gordon enjoyed an 18th birthday to remember after securing his first-ever Cheltenham success today, day one of The Showcase, when steering Our Champ to glory in the Foundation Developments Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle. The winner is trained by Gordon’s father Chris.

Having run out a clear-cut winner on his stable debut for the Winchester handler at Plumpton 33 days ago the five year old gelding backed up that success when taking another step forward in the extended two mile curtain raiser at the Home of Jump Racing. 

Striking the front before the penultimate flight the well backed 9-2 joint-favourite met the last on a good stride before bounding away on the climb to the line to defeat Swinton Hurdle winner Black Poppy by seven and a half lengths. 

Freddie Gordon said: “This is what dreams are made of coming here on my 18th birthday. My dad has let me have a spin, more for like a day out, and then he has gone and done that which is amazing. 

“My old man said jump out and try and make it, but if someone else is going to then get a lead. They went a lovely gallop for him, and that is all he does is stay. 

“He got around the final bend and I held onto him a bit more then we jumped the last and he picked up lovely for me. I think he has surprised us all really.”

As for the triumphant trainer he hinted that the Grade Two Dovecote Novices’ Hurdle at Kempton Park in February, which he has previously won with Highway One O Two in 2020 and Aucunrisque in 2022, could be a target for the former Paul Henderson-trained gelding. 

Chris Gordon added: “That was the boy’s 18th today so I got it right for once. That is his 18th birthday present. He came to us and went to Plumpton and won nicely there and I thought before the handicapper gets hold of him lets come here for the owners and he has done it really well. 

“He is only a five-year-old and he is still a novice so I might look at some of those novice graded races as the season goes on as he is a very experience jumper. We might have a look at the Dovecote at Kempton Park. 

“To be quite honest I came here pretty confident for me as I’m always pessimistic. I rode him myself the other day in a bit of work against a very good horse in Aucunrisque and they worked extremely well. 

“He has just got a good attitude and he is a really sharp two-miler. The stronger the gallop the better for him, but there are loads of options for him.”