CRABBIE’S TOP NOVICES’

HURDLE (GRADE 1)

ON a day when everything went well for him, Colin Tizzard also won the Grade 1 Crabbie’s Top Novices’ Hurdle with 16/1 chance Pingshou, who left his Cheltenham form behind and won with remarkable ease.

In front three from home, Robbie Power kicked on strongly and Pingshou never faced a challenge in the closing stages.

Keeping on well, he had four and a half lengths to spare over 9/4 joint-favourite Mount Mews with The Unit also keeping on steadily in third.

The result was something of a setback for the form book because the other joint-favourite, Nicky Henderson’s River Wylde, could finish only fifth after having the winner some way behind him when third in the Supreme Novices’ at the festival.

That will not worry winning owners Ann and Alan Potts, who were also completing a memorable double after Fox Norton’s earlier win.