GLOBAL Citizen, who cost a great deal of money when moving from Jonjo O’Neill to Ben Pauling and looked a possible champion at one stage, took a firm step in the right direction when making all under 11st 10lb in the Listed Ladbrokes Intermediate Hurdle, a limited handicap over the extended two miles.

Racing freely for David Bass, he never looked like being caught and was at least two lengths clear at the final flight, though Alan King’s Lisp closed to within half a length at the line, with Mont Des Avaloirs inches behind.

Global Citizen won most impressively at Kempton in February, where the sharp track seemed to suit him. Only sixth behind Lalor at Aintree, he was again a little disappointing when beaten eight lengths by Fidux at Ascot recently but improved here and may have his sights raised again.

“Yes, I think he will probably go for the Christmas Hurdle now because there is so much improvement to come from that,” Pauling said. “We missed a week with a bit of a bang but his enthusiasm is endless and he was very brave on ground too soft for him.”

It was a mixed day for the trainer because his Barters Hill was retired after being pulled up in the Ladbrokes Handicap Hurdle.

J.P. DOUBLE

Kapcorse and Champ, owned by J.P. McManus and aged five and six respectively, are two young horses going places.

The former, trained by Nicholls, took the Sir Peter O’Sullevan Memorial Handicap Chase by 10 lengths from his stablemate Brelan D’As. Described as weak and backward by his trainer, the plan is to take a softly, softly approach.

Champ’s plans are more concrete. Nicky Henderson’s gelding increased his rating to 150 with his impressive win in the Ladbrokes Handicap Hurdle.

As he is still a novice, the Challow Hurdle is on the agenda for the horse named after Sir Anthony McCoy.

TRISH TURNS THE TABLES

There was an interesting set-to between Paul Nicholls and Nicky Henderson in the opening Ladbrokes Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle and it went the way of the former champion trainer.

When Posh Trish turned the tables on her recent conqueror Lust For Glory over course and distance, she was backed to do so, down to 11/8 favouritism, on 8lb better terms this time around.

In the end, she won convincingly for Harry Cobden, making all and passing the post just over three lengths to the good, with Passing Call back in third.

Philip Kirby’s Lady Buttons (5/2 favourite) is in grand form at present and a 3lb increase for winning well at Wetherby was not enough to stop her in the closing Ladbrokes In Memory Of Tara Von Ihering Handicap Chase over two miles.

In fact, she won even more comfortably, moving through to lead two out and pulling just over two lengths clear of outsider Shear Rock with Doitforthevillage a moderate third.

Top Gamble, who was nibbled at down to 9/2, travelled easily for much of the journey but weakened in the straight and could finish only fourth. He shaped like a future winner.