FLAT racing came to Cheltenham this afternoon when six of the fences in the Steel Plate and Sections Novices’ Chase were omitted due to a low sun.

But in what became a pure Flat race over the last half-mile, it was again trainer Philip Hobbs and his jockey Richard Johnson who came to the fore as Champagne West kept up the hill more determinedly than stable-mate Colour Squadron.

Champagne West, who beat the favourite by three lengths, earned a 16-1 first-show quote with Paddy Power for the RSA Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.

Winning rider Johnson defended the decision to miss out so many fences.

“When we turned into the home straight I couldn’t see much at all and at the end of the day safety is paramount,” he said.

“It’s easy when you are in the stands thinking it doesn’t look bad, but you literally can’t see the orange boards (that give a sight line at the front of each fence) as there is a massive shadow on them.”