888SPORT SCILLY ISLES

NOVICES’ CHASE

(GRADE 1)

IT was a very good day for Barry Geraghty, who also won the Grade 1 888Sport Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase on Defi Du Seuil, who eased out to 7/2 but timed his run to perfection and headed Lostintranslation soon after landing over the last and kept on to beat him by three-quarters of a length, with Vinndication a little disappointing in third.

Lostintranslation had beaten the winner in the Dipper at Cheltenham when there was time to rally and get back up again on the run-in. He was 3lbs worse off here and could not repeat the dose but was going on well close home and there may not be much in it again if the pair meet in the JLT at Cheltenham. Of the two, Defi Du Seuil might have superior speed if preferring the Arkle.

“We knew he was a fantastic horse in his juvenile year but last season was a write-off,” said Philip Hobbs’ assistant Johnson White. “A lot of juveniles don’t come back and hold their form but he has.”

Kim Bailey’s Vinndication was unbeaten after six outings going into last week’s race and started at 11/8 favourite. He lacked the pace to go with the front two but was keeping on well as if three miles might suit.