THE 3/1 favourite Ballyandy won Saturday's Betfair Hurdle at Newbury, one of the biggest handicaps of the jumps season.
Winner of the Cheltenham bumper a year ago, Ballyandy had been beaten on all three of his previous starts over hurdles this season but they had been in hot company and many felt the handicapper had been too lenient giving this Grade 1 winner a handicap mark of 135.
Trainer Paul Nicholls also thought his novice Movewiththetimes was well-treated on 136 and it was this pair who dominated the closing stages of the contest.
Sam Twiston-Davies asked Ballyandy for a big jump at the final flight and the six-year-old didn't disappoint and came out of the obstacle with a clear lead.
Movewiththetimes stuck to his guns under Barry Geraghty but Twiston-Davies - first jockey to Nicholls - and Ballyandy wouldn't be denied.
The pair were separated by three parts of a length while Clyne, six lengths adrift, finished best of the rest with Song Light running another big race in fourth.
Twiston-Davies said: "It's lovely when a plan works out. He's been unlucky and hasn't won any of the races we thought he would. What a consolation!"
The winner is likely to run in either the Supreme or Neptune Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham.
"We could not understand him getting beaten in those first three races, there were no real excuses. He has always been a superstar, as we know from Cheltenham. The strong pace helped. The world is his oyster at the moment."
Paul Nicholls said of his runner-up Movewiththetimes: "He will be some chaser. He is still a bit babyish, but has run a nice race and there are no excuses.
"He was just a bit green as that was his only fourth start over hurdles and he has never been off the bridle before.
"He is just a really nice horse. He is in the Supreme and the Neptune. We will see what the owner (J.P. McManus) wants."
Nicholls won the closing listed bumper with the well-backed Daphne Du Clos. A daughter of Spanish Moon, she defeated some well-regarded geldings and looks a future star.
READ IAN CARNABY'S BRITISH RACING COLUMN IN THE IRISH FIELD EVERY WEEKEND
HORSE Age Wgt Rating Owner Trainer
1) OUTLANDER (IRE) 9 11-10 166 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott IRE
2) CHAMPAGNE WEST (IRE) 9 11-09 165 Roger Brookhouse Henry de Bromhead IRE
3) EMPIRE OF DIRT (IRE) 10 11-08 164 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott IRE
4) DON POLI (IRE) 8 11-07 163 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott IRE
5) CARLINGFORD LOUGH (IRE) 11 11-06 162 J P McManus John Kiely IRE
6) THE LAST SAMURI (IRE) 9 11-05 161 Paul & Clare Rooney Kim Bailey
7) ALARY (FR) 7 11-04 160 Ann & Alan Potts Colin Tizzard
8) ALELCHI INOIS (FR) 9 11-03 159 L McMahon/Mrs F Murphy/F Mangan Willie Mullins IRE
9) MINELLA ROCCO (IRE) 7 11-02 158 J P McManus Jonjo O'Neill
10) DEVILS BRIDE (IRE) 10 11-01 157 Gigginstown House Stud Henry de Bromhead IRE
11) MORE OF THAT (IRE) 9 11-01 157 J P McManus Jonjo O'Neill
12) LORD SCOUNDREL (IRE) 8 11-00 156 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott IRE
13) PERFECT CANDIDATE (IRE) 10 11-00 156 ISL Recruitment Fergal O'Brien
14) SAPHIR DU RHEU (FR) 8 11-00 156 The Stewart Family Paul Nicholls
15) SHANTOU FLYER (IRE) 7 11-00 156 Carl Hinchy Rebecca Curtis
16) ROAD TO RICHES (IRE) 10 10-13 155 Gigginstown House Stud Noel Meade IRE
17) SAUSALITO SUNRISE (IRE) 9 10-13 155 Diana Whateley Philip Hobbs
18) CAROLE'S DESTRIER 9 10-12 154 Carole Skipworth Neil Mulholland
19) CLARCAM (FR) 7 10-12 154 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott IRE
20) FOXROCK (IRE) 9 10-12 154 Barry Connell Ted Walsh IRE
21) ROI DES FRANCS (FR) 8 10-12 154 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott IRE
22) WONDERFUL CHARM (FR) 9 10-11 153 Robin Geffen & Sir John Ritblat Paul Nicholls
23) WOUNDED WARRIOR (IRE) 8 10-11 153 Gigginstown House Stud Noel Meade IRE
24) BLAKLION 8 10-10 152 Sarah Such & Gino Paletta Nigel Twiston-Davies
25) DROP OUT JOE 9 10-10 152 The Jesters Charlie Longsdon
26) TENOR NIVERNAIS (FR) 10 10-10 152 Boultbee Brooks Ltd Venetia Williams
27) TIGER ROLL (IRE) 7 10-10 152 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott IRE
28) A TOI PHIL (FR) 7 10-09 151 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott IRE
29) LE MERCUREY (FR) 7 10-09 151 Chris Giles & Colm Donlon Paul Nicholls
30) THE GAME CHANGER (IRE) 8 10-09 151 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott IRE
31) CAUSE OF CAUSES (USA) 9 10-08 150 J P McManus Gordon Elliott IRE
32) MAGGIO (FR) 12 10-08 150 Douglas Pryde/Jim Beaumont Patrick Griffin IRE
33) REGAL ENCORE (IRE) 9 10-08 150 J P McManus Anthony Honeyball
34) THE YOUNG MASTER 8 10-08 150 Dajam & The Old Masters Neil Mulholland
35) DEFINITLY RED (IRE) 8 10-07 149 Phil Martin Brian Ellison
36) DOUBLE SHUFFLE (IRE) 7 10-07 149 Crossed Fingers Partnership Tom George
37) HOUBLON DES OBEAUX (FR) 10 10-07 149 Mrs Julian Blackwell Venetia Williams
38) PLEASANT COMPANY (IRE) 9 10-07 149 Malcolm Denmark Willie Mullins IRE
39) UCELLO CONTI (FR) 9 10-07 149 Simon Munir/Isaac Souede Gordon Elliott IRE
40) VIEUX LION ROUGE (FR) 8 10-07 149 Prof Caroline Tisdall & John Gent David Pipe
41) BALLYNAGOUR (IRE) 11 10-06 148 Allan Stennett David Pipe
42) HIGHLAND LODGE (IRE) 11 10-06 148 Bowes Lodge Stables James Moffatt
43) JUNCTION FOURTEEN (IRE) 8 10-06 148 Martin St Quinton & Tim Syder Emma Lavelle
44) O'FAOLAINS BOY (IRE) 10 10-06 148 Trembath, Hyde, Outhart & Hill Rebecca Curtis
45) ONE FOR ARTHUR (IRE) 8 10-06 148 Two Golf Widows Lucinda Russell
46) VIVALDI COLLONGES (FR) 8 10-06 148 The Gi Gi Syndicate Paul Nicholls
47) BISHOPS ROAD (IRE) 9 10-05 147 Alan Halsall Kerry Lee
48) LORD WINDERMERE (IRE) 11 10-05 147 Dr Ronan Lambe Jim Culloty IRE
49) SAINT ARE (FR) 11 10-05 147 David Fox Tom George
50) VICENTE (FR) 8 10-05 147 John Hales & Ian Fogg Paul Nicholls
51) VICS CANVAS (IRE) 14 10-05 147 Bodeen Bandits Partnership Dermot McLoughlin IRE
52) ZIGA BOY (FR) 8 10-05 147 Axom LI Alan King
53) JUST A PAR (IRE) 10 10-04 146 Paul Barber & the late Graham Roach Paul Nicholls
54) MEASUREOFMYDREAMS (IRE) 9 10-04 146 Gigginstown House Stud Noel Meade IRE
55) RAZ DE MAREE (FR) 12 10-04 146 James J Swan Gavin Cromwell
56) STELLAR NOTION (IRE) 9 10-04 146 Roger Brookhouse Henry de Bromhead IRE
57) AS DE MEE (FR) 7 10-03 145 The Stewart Family & Judi Dench Paul Nicholls
58) COCKTAILS AT DAWN 9 10-03 145 Robin Geffen & Sir John Ritblat Nicky Henderson
59) PENDRA (IRE) 9 10-03 145 J P McManus Charlie Longsdon
60) ROGUE ANGEL (IRE) 9 10-03 145 Gigginstown House Stud Mouse Morris IRE
61) SEVENTH SKY (GER) 10 10-03 145 Fidelma Toole Charlie Mann
62) SHUTTHEFRONTDOOR (IRE) 10 10-03 145 J P McManus Jonjo O'Neill
63) GAS LINE BOY (IRE) 11 10-02 144 The Three Graces Ian Williams
64) GOODTOKNOW 9 10-02 144 Burling Daresbury MacEchern Nolan Potter Kerry Lee
65) THE ROMFORD PELE (IRE) 10 10-02 144 Trembath & Outhart Rebecca Curtis
66) THUNDER AND ROSES (IRE) 9 10-02 144 Gigginstown House Stud Mouse Morris IRE
67) TRIOLO D'ALENE (FR) 10 10-02 144 Sandy & Caroline Orr Nicky Henderson
68) VIEUX MORVAN (FR) 8 10-02 144 N H Bloodstock Ltd Isabelle Pacault FR
69) DOCTOR HARPER (IRE) 9 10-01 143 The Johnson Family David Pipe
70) GALLANT OSCAR (IRE) 11 10-01 143 J P McManus Tony Martin IRE
71) LA VATICANE (FR) 8 10-01 143 Maria Bukhtoyarova David Pipe
72) BLESS THE WINGS (IRE) 12 10-00 142 Adrian Butler/S P O'Connor Gordon Elliott IRE
73) TOUR DES CHAMPS (FR) 10 10-00 142 Prestbury Racing Club Samuel Drinkwater
74) KNOCK HOUSE (IRE) 8 9-13 141 Tim Leslie Donald McCain
75) HADRIAN'S APPROACH (IRE) 10 9-12 140 Richard & Lizzie Kelvin-Hughes Nicky Henderson
76) BENBENS (IRE) 12 9-11 139 Sarah Such & Gino Paletta Nigel Twiston-Davies
77) POTTERS CROSS 10 9-11 139 Conyers, O'Reilly, Roddis, Zeffman Rebecca Curtis
78) SAMBREMONT (FR) 7 9-11 139 Shanakiel Racing Syndicate Willie Mullins IRE
79) STRAIDNAHANNA (IRE) 8 9-11 139 Margaret Scholey & Ray Scholey Sue Smith
80) VIVA STEVE (IRE) 9 9-11 139 Paul & Clare Rooney Fergal O'Brien
81) CLOUDY TOO (IRE) 11 9-10 138 Formulated Polymer Products Ltd Sue Smith
82) LAMB OR COD (IRE) 10 9-10 138 Terry Warner Philip Hobbs
83) MILANSBAR (IRE) 10 9-10 138 Robert Bothway Neil King
84) POLIDAM (FR) 8 9-10 138 Simon Munir/Isaac Souede Willie Mullins IRE
85) DROMNEA (IRE) 10 9-09 137 Ann Daly Mouse Morris IRE
86) STREETS OF PROMISE (IRE) 8 9-09 137 Gempro Michael Scudamore
87) VYTA DU ROC (FR) 8 9-09 137 Simon Munir & Isaac Souede Nicky Henderson
88) BEEVES (IRE) 10 9-08 136 Paul & Clare Rooney Jennie Candlish
89) ROYALE KNIGHT 11 9-08 136 Chris Stedman & Robert Corsan Dr Richard Newland
90) ALFIE SPINNER (IRE) 12 9-07 135 Alan Beard & Brian Beard Kerry Lee
91) EMPEROR'S CHOICE (IRE) 10 9-07 135 The Bellamy Partnership Venetia Williams
92) GOULANES (IRE) 11 9-07 135 Roger Brookhouse Neil Mulholland
93) LESSONS IN MILAN (IRE) 9 9-07 135 Trevor Hemmings Nicky Henderson
94) MOUNTAIN KING 8 9-07 135 Jack McKay/Paul McKay/Mark McKay Gordon Elliott IRE
95) OUT SAM 8 9-07 135 Swanee River Partnership Warren Greatrex
96) SIZING COAL (IRE) 9 9-07 135 Alan & Ann Potts Partnership Jim Dreaper IRE
97) DARE TO ENDEAVOUR 10 9-06 134 Aidan J Ryan Eric McNamara IRE
98) FATHER EDWARD (IRE) 8 9-06 134 Fergus Wilson David Pipe
99) SAMINGARRY (FR) 10 9-06 134 Nigel Hawke Racing Club & Partner Nigel Hawke
100) SILVER MAN 10 9-06 134 John Wardle Jo Hughes
101) ALVARADO (IRE) 12 9-05 133 William & Angela Rucker Fergal O'Brien
102) MILBOROUGH (IRE) 11 9-05 133 Helen Cross Ian Duncan
103) THE CRAFTY BUTCHER (IRE) 10 9-04 132 P Byrne/P W Mullins/D Ryan/I Madigan Willie Mullins IRE
104) WALDORF SALAD 9 9-04 132 Alan Parker Venetia Williams
105) KATENKO (FR) 11 9-03 131 Andrew Brooks Venetia Williams
106) FEDERICI 8 9-02 130 Jon Glews Donald McCain
107) GONE TOO FAR 9 9-01 129 Fergus Wilson David Pipe
108) RACING PULSE (IRE) 8 9-01 129 Carl Hinchy Rebecca Curtis
109) KILLER CROW (IRE) 8 9-00 128 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott IRE
109 entries, 37 Irish-trained, I French-trained
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