Lecoq takes the

Welsh Champion

FFOS Las staged the Low Cost Vans Welsh Champion Hurdle last Saturday and this looked a solid renewal for all one or two will benefit fitness-wise, and produced a stirring finish, with last year’s runner-up Le Prezien bouncing back to his best to fill that spot once more, and he only failed to get up, running the smooth-travelling Monsieur Lecoq (Jane/Chester Williams) to a short-head.

The winner, a son of Diamond Boy, is unexposed, being a five-year-old having just his ninth race here. He was runner-up in the Imperial Cup in March, but the winning rider feels he is a stronger horse after his summer break, although this win may mean that plans to go chasing may be shelved.

Silver at Kempton

CHAMPION Hurdle third Silver Streak (Evan Williams/Adam Wedge) didn’t have to be at his best for a comfortable win in the Listed Matchbook VIP Hurdle at Kempton last Sunday, proving eight lengths too good for outsider Beat The Judge after both Grand Sancy and favourite Itchy Feet had been let down by their jumping. The latter was especially disappointing having been made favourite on the back of his third to Klassical Dream in the Supreme last spring. The Fighting Fifth and the Christmas Hurdle are likely targets.”

Pacify (Jamie Snowden/Gavin Sheehan) conjured up memories of Prince Charles’s mixed efforts as an amateur rider as the horse he bred with the Duchess of Cornwall won the listed novice hurdle in her colours, making all and jumping left at times.

The former high-class flat handicapper has taken well to his new regime, and this was his fifth win from as many starts over hurdles since starting out at Southwell in June.

Irish winners

JOHN McConnell struck at Wolverhampton last Saturday evening courtesy of Yamato, who snapped a losing run of 25 stretching over two years, winning by a short-head after being eased heavily in the final 50 yards.

At the same track on Thursday, Shane Nolan teamed up with Luke Morris with the well-backed Footsteps At Dawn, who overcame a bad stumble before half-way in the seven-furlong handicap, winning in the colours of owner-breeder Adrian Martin.