Time For Rupert was highlighted by this blog after the 2010 Cheltenham Festival as one of the loser's to note, finishing second to the exceptional Big Buck's in the World Hurdle. Time For Rupert had no chance against the heralded victor, but he did finish 11 lengths clear of the third in March and on Friday made made a perfect start to his chasing career with a determined victory for trainer Paul Webber.
The winner, sent off a 7/2 shot, finished eight lengths ahead of runner-up Hell's Bay in the Steel Plate And Sections Novices' Chase (Class 2) over 2m4½f and bookmakers reacted by cutting him to best-price 8/1 (Bet365) favourite for the RSA Chase.
From the outset Mr Thriller and Time For Rupert disputed the lead and Kennedy was content to drop back slightly as Noel Fehily and Othermix came up to challenge. Going downhill, Kennedy started to urge Time For Rupert closer, passing Othermix for second and then setting about the long-time leader Mr Thriller. The shorter trip had been highlighted as a concern for Time For Rupert and behind him nothing was travelling better than Joe Tizzard on Hell's Bay and that pair began to close steadily in the home straight. The penultimate fence proved the undoing of Mr Thriller, who crumpled on landing, though happily he and jockey Tom Scudamore were quickly up, leaving Hell's Bay and Time For Rupert to battle it out.
Neither jumped the last spectacularly, but Kennedy's mount was quicker away from the obstacle and used his proven stamina to draw clear and win by eight lengths.
Trainer Paul Webber said: "The RSA Chase is the yellow brick road and we'll see if we can avoid the potholes on the way. He's the highest-rated horse we've had and Will was very happy. He travelled so easily and filled him with confidence the whole way round. I was half inclined to sneak off to Bangor, but the owners [Littlecote Racing Partnership] said let's go to Cheltenham and get some practice in. He seems to love it here."
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