DEVON owner Oliver Carter has long been known in racing circles for 'tilting at windmills' with his hoses and his winner at Hereford races on Tuesday, Venn Ottery will next week be another for him in the Queen Mother Champion Chase, writes GRAHAM SAVEKER.

Venn Ottery was made a 2/5 favourite to take the two mile handicap chase under Irish jockey Ruby Walsh and the pair produced a fine performance prompting connections to confirm the Cheltenham dream was still on.

Owner Oliver Carter has backed his horse at 1,000/1 for the Festival first day showcase race and winning trainer Paul Nicholls' assistant Jeremy Young confirmed: "The dream is back on. The ground beat him at Market Rasen on Sunday but he bounced off it here and he's due to go up a further 13lb after this, so let's see how he gets on at Cheltenham."

This was Venn Ottery's fourth win in three weeks for his optimistic 86-year-old owner who has long been an enthusiastic supporter of National Hunt racing.