OWNER Simon Hunt has been reliving the moment when The Giant Bolster hammered home why those who know him best have always thought he can go right to the top.

Few horses win as easily at Cheltenham as David Bridgwater's stable star did on Festival Trials Day last Saturday, running his rivals ragged under a bold front-running ride by Tom Scudamore.

Hunt and Bridgwater and his team at Wyck Hill Stables were confident The Giant Bolster was capable of producing that sort of dominating display, just as long as the seven-year-old didn't repeat the jumping mistakes that had impeded his rise up the chasing ladder.

Reflecting on the victory, Hunt said: "The headline in the Echo a few days before the race was spot-on when it said Bridgy was backing The Giant Bolster to produce fireworks.

"He'd been working really well at home and we always thought he could win the race if he jumped the way we knew he could and he had luck in running.

"We decided that if no one else wanted to go off in front, we'd bounce out and have a go, but I couldn't have predicted he'd win by 17 lengths!

"Jumping the last I think everyone was holding their breath because if he got over it he'd win the race.

"The hairs on the back of your neck stand up and there's a lump in your throat.

"It's a tight team at Bridgy's, where they've put in so much work with the horse, and it means so much more.

"The reception from the crowd in the winner's enclosure was fantastic.

"I was so pleased to see the way Nigel Twiston-Davies congratulated Bridgy – that was really special.

"I know that means so much to Bridgy, getting recognition off a guy you really respect.

"It's a fantastic achievement and there's still more to come from the horse.

"He's given us some fantastic days out now and we're privileged to have him.

"He's won twice at Cheltenham, finished seventh in the Hennessy, run at the past two Festivals, finished sixth to Peddlers Cross, fifth at Aintree – it's incredible.

"I was blown away to see he was trending on twitter."

The Giant Bolster's commanding performance resulted in a 15lb rise in the handicap to 160.

It puts him behind only Jonjo O'Neill's star duo Albertas Run and Synchronised, both rated 168, of the horses trained in Gloucestershire to have run this season.

He could put his new mark to the test in the Racing+ Chase at Kempton on February 25 or head straight for the Festival, where options include the betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Hunt said: "If someone had offered me a 160-rated chaser aged seven years old I would have snapped their hand off.

"Maybe it's a bit high when you think the likes of Great Endeavour and Carruthers are rated a few pounds less than him, but saying that he destroyed the field and won by 17 lengths so we're certainly not going to moan about it.

"He rested up on Sunday and was turned out in a field on Monday and got some sun on his back.

"He cantered on Tuesday with Bridgy, who said he was in great order.

"We're going to think things through, but the horse will tell us if he's ready and we'll only do what's right for him.

"We'll just see how things pan out and take it from there."