LAST Saturday, the Eider Chase at Newcastle was billed as the biggest day of Lorcan Murtagh's short career and boy did he deliver, landing his fourth – and comfortably his biggest – success over jumps in devastating fashion aboard the Rose Dobbin-trained Rocking Blues.

Still able to claim 10lb for his boss, which accounted for almost all of the nine-length winning margin, the son of trainer Barry Murtagh was coolness personified when he appeared on the scene turning for home aboard the 11-year-old, who was taken out of retirement earlier this season.

He was in front from four out and the result never looked in doubt, save for not getting too high at the last, but they landed running and continued to power clear to land the £85,000 contest at odds of 8-1.

"He's jumped and travelled brilliantly for me, and he's just going so well for me I had to send him on," said the 17-year-old. "I don't know what's happened at the last, we've both guessed a little, but I never felt I was coming off.

"It's not quite sunk in yet. To have this happen at this stage of my career is a gift and I'm so grateful to Rose and Tony. Hopefully this will open a few doors for me for some outside rides."

It was Murtagh's third wide-margin win on Rocking Blues, with the other two by nine and 20 lengths. That first win came off a mark of 110, with 138 defied with contempt in the Eider.

"I can't believe it. We'd actually retired him, he was out in a field, but we thought we'd give it one last go this season," said Dobbin.

"He's been fragile, so we'd like to keep him on safe ground, but the Grand National might be an option next year. The Midlands National could be next, or there's a veterans' chase at Carlisle, but I'd be tempted to rough him off."

Davy Russell produced a fine ride on the runner-up Shotgun Paddy, who ran a cracking trial for the Crabbie's Grand National, travelling widest on the final circuit and staying all the way to the line.

Catterick raced on Tuesday and Philip Kirby had plenty to smile about after watching Sakhee's City come home in front in the maiden hurdle under Adam Nicol.

The talented trainer, who is due to relocate from Middleham to an impressive purpose-built yard near Catterick at the end of the month, said: "We're pleased to get a win from Sakhee's City. He ran well in all his bumpers and was found to have a defibrillating heart last time, so you can put a line through that run. I'm not sure what we'll do with him long-term, we bought him for the Flat!"

The yard also enjoyed success at Wolverhampton on Wednesday thanks to Next Edition, coming home in front under Phil Dennis, who continues to impress as a young jockey.

Victoria Pendleton's Cheltenham Festival dream faces its make-or-break moment on Monday after the dual Olympic champion demonstrated her capability in the plate with her first victory as a jockey aboard Pacha Du Polder at Wincanton on Wednesday.

Pendleton needed to show she can hold her own on the racecourse after being unseated from the same horse at Fakenham last month, but she answered any doubters in style with an all-the-way success in the Betfair Switching Saddles Hunters' Chase.

However, the decision on whether she will line up in the St James's Place Foxhunter Chase on the final day of the Festival is out of her hands now, with the horse's trainer Paul Nicholls, jumping guru Yogi Breisner and Lawney and Alan Hill, from whose yard she has been riding out, due to discuss the issue over the weekend before delivering their final verdict on Monday.

The former cycling champion set out to make a positive impact, taking a prominent role from the off and, after surviving a couple of sticky leaps, Pendleton returned to a warm reception from the Wincanton crowd, with the 5-4 favourite running out a 29-length victor.

"I really wanted to get round to do my horse justice and for my team of Paul Nicholls, Alan and Lawney Hill and Yogi Breisner," Pendleton said.

"I feel very honoured and lucky to be allowed to ride such a wonderful animal.

"I was very frustrated (after Fakenham), but also I know that this sport is full of thrills and spills – that can happen, it's racing.

"When I started this challenge, people said 'You know you're going to fall off, don't you?' and I said, 'Yes, I know', but it's a very small price to pay for the joy you get in riding a thoroughbred racehorse."

An emotional Pendleton added: "I've had the most wonderful year learning how to ride and school horses. Just the joy of galloping racehorses has hit me hard and gone right in.

"With a racehorse, the partnership is something that is so special. If someone would have told me this last year I wouldn't have believed them. It's been life-changing."

I think she has done amazingly well in a short space of time and wish her well.