Venetia Williams and Charlie Deutsch enjoyed another big-race Saturday success when Gemirande dug deep to fend off Madara in the valuable Nyetimber December Gold Cup at Cheltenham.
Gemirande jumped well towards the head of affairs under a positive Charlie Deutsch, but it looked as though he might have to play second fiddle to the well-backed Madara when the Skelton's contender loomed large at the second last.
A slight coming together over the penultimate fence appeared to knock Madara off his stride, allowing Gemirande back into a clear advantage on the approach to the final flight. Harry Skelton once again produced Madara to come upsides the longtime leader over the last, but once asked for maximum effort by Deutsch, pulled out more to go on and score by a length at odds of 11/2.
Last year's winner Fugitif suffered slight interference rounding the bend but stayed on nicely to finish a further seven and a half lengths behind in third for trainer Richard Hobson and jockey Sean Bowen.
Deutsch said: "I've grown to love this horse; he's quite a character and his jumping was electric.
"I'm chuffed for him to get his head in front, he loves racing and is really enthusiastic. His jumping is so quick, he is quite a keen-going sort, so I was conscious we needed a breather on the way round.
"I felt I had a little bit there (at the last); it was just whether Madara would have a bit more, but he's really game and he tries.
"He's definitely got better with age; he was struggling to finish his races earlier in his career. It's nice that he's getting there now. Venetia is a magician with what she does with these horses."
Victory continued an incredible run for the trainer-jockey combination, who teamed up to win the Betfair Chase with the possible King George VI Chase-bound Royale Pagaille and the Peterborough Chase with Djelo.
"I'm really enjoying it, I'm confident and I know how Venetia works now. I have so much confidence in her and her horses," said the winning rider.
Venetia Williams added: "It's been amazing. You always look at the big races that are on offer and see if you've got something for them.
"I wanted to run this horse in the Paddy Power Gold Cup, but he was out of the weights, so we went to Ascot instead. The way he quickened from the last to the line at Ascot, I haven't seen that for a long time. I was so impressed, and I thought we've definitely got to come here for this.
"Charlie wasn't quite sure how he was going to do the weight (10st 2lb), and I didn't know what he was going to amputate! Yesterday, I think he was 10st 7lb and he said 'I'll do the weight'. He could have gone for a couple of easier weight options at Doncaster, but he was very keen to come and ride him.
"He's a big guy, he's got big shoulders, and he hasn't done 10st 2lb for a while. I think he's an outstanding jockey.
"Last season wasn't really a full season at all for the horse. He got a really nasty overreach which took ages to get on top of, so last season didn't really count.
"We don't do long-term targets; this was a good enough one."
On her potential Ladbrokes King George VI Chase contenders L'Homme Presse and Royale Pagaille, Williams said: "Hopefully we'll run both. He (L'Homme Presse) worked this morning and that's the plan at the moment."
