WARWICK SATURDAY

WARWICK staged its most prestigious jumps card of the season last Saturday, the Grade 2 Ballymore Leamington Novices’ Hurdle going to the Skeltons’ Beakstown, who picked off Rockpoint three out and went on to beat Stoney Mountain quite comfortably.

The manner of victory meant that those behind will have to improve a great deal to make any impression at the festival meetings.

Beakstown, ‘nibbled at’ from 15/2 to 6/1, was hardly an obvious choice after losing out to Ask Ben in a tight finish at Newcastle and probably has more to prove as well, but his victory in a three-mile point for Andrew Slattery at Turtulla means the Albert Bartlett is an alternative to the Ballymore itself. He still looks a chaser rather than a hurdler.

Ok Corral ready for a showdown

J.P. McManus has had a few horses with western connections over the years and OK Corral is another to sport the famous green and yellow colours.

Trained by Nicky Henderson and ridden by Derek O’Connor, the nine-year-old came through late to head Paul Nicholls’ Secret Investor after the latter had taken the measure of very warm favourite Rocky’s Treasure in the four-runner Listed Hampton Novices’ Chase.

O’Connor had never ridden for Henderson before and Warwick was also new to him. However, he will be required for Ok Corral in the four-mile National Hunt Chase at the festival and there was no sign of the horse stopping at the end of three here.

Although nine, this was only his seventh race over obstacles and he has won both of his chases.

While it would be rash to start talking about ‘bankers’, one can appreciate Henderson’s thinking with several weeks still to go. Ok Corral was second in the Albert Bartlett at Cheltenham last year and then fifth behind stable-companion Santini at Aintree, where the course looked too sharp for him. He is clearly an out-and-out stayer.

Star sees it out well

NEIL Mulholland has hit form recently and a big prize came the trainer’s way when 8/1 shot Impulsive Star, rallying bravely at the last, kept on to beat Nigel Twiston-Davies’ Calett Mad in the marathon McCoy Contractors Civil Engineering Classic Handicap Chase over three miles and five furlongs.

Like Ok Corral, Impulsive Star is nine. He finished fourth in the National Hunt Chase (soft ground) last year but was outpointed by J.P. McManus’ horse at Plumpton last month. Like his rival, he receives expert assistance from the saddle with Sam Waley-Cohen riding for his father. He did well here but, off 9st 12lb with the rider shedding a few pounds, had an eye-catching chance, even though previously unsuccessful over fences. He went well in the cheekpieces.

Warren Greatrex’s Keeper Hill, 5/1, clearly prefers hurdles to fences at present and quickened away nicely in the Pertemps Qualifier for young Harry Teal. He is generally a 14/1 chance (from 25s) for the final.

Byrnes has his day

AT Wetherby on Saturday, Charles Byrnes’ Thosedaysaregone was made 11/10 favourite for the Racing TV Handicap Hurdle over nearly two and a half miles and did the job in style, coming home four and a half lengths in front of Simply A Legend in the hands of Adam Wedge.

Byrnes is a clever placer of horses and Thosedaysaregone, in front before the last, was let in lightly off 118 after a few modest efforts in maiden company, including when pulled up at Sedgefield, where he was ridden by an inexperienced claimer.