Ascot Friday

THE Grade 2 Kennel Gate Hurdle (now run as the SkyBet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle Trial) has a roll of honour which includes Champion Hurdle winner Make A Stand and was won in similar front-running style by Colin Tizzard’s Master Debonair (3/1). The Yeats gelding impressed, proving too strong for the odds-on favourite Ribble Valley (Nicky Richards/Brian Hughes), conceding that highly-regarded rival 3lbs and beating him by eight lengths, with hurdling newcomer Time Flies By shaping well in third.

Colin Tizzard admitted afterwards that some of the owners were keen to take Master Debonair handicapping, with the Betfair Hurdle the obvious shout, but the trainer is not keen to go that route with his novices, and when asked about entering him in that contest quipped: “It’s too late, because it’s closed now, or I bloody hope it has!”

Perhaps the fact that Make A Stand won this, the Tote Gold Trophy (as it was) and the Champion Hurdle in the same season might cause the trainer to revise his plans, as unfortunately for Colin, he has another fortnight and more to be pestered before the entries do actually close for the big race in February.

In light of that, he might leave his phone off the hook over Christmas.

Nicky Richards was not downcast about the runner-up, who rather over-raced given the uneven gallop and heavy ground, and assured those who would listed that Ribble Valley would prove a different proposition on better ground and with an end-to-end gallop. I’m inclined to agree, and think this race will pay to follow.

ANGELS Breath was a facile winner of the two-runner Noel Novices’ Chase at Ascot yesterday, looking every inch a Grade 1 winner in the making as he jumped fluently and made all under Nico de Boinville to justify odds of 1/5.

There was concern as he pulled up as it turned out he had suffered a nasty overreach during the race, and did not return to the winners’ enclosure afterwards. Trainer Nicky Henderson was keen to point out that his absence was very much a precaution, with the trainer at pains to ensure the wound was washed and bound before he travelled back to Seven Barrows for further assessment.

It’s impossible to tell whether the cut he suffered will keep him out for a matter of days or months at this stage, and the possibility of infection as much as possible tendon damage to his off-fore is what concerns his trainer.

The listed bumper was a very competitive affair on paper, and in the end it went to Israel Champ (David Pipe/Tom Scudamore), who defied a penalty for winning a similar event at Cheltenham last month. The Milan gelding, bred by Sheila Kelleher, had to concede 4lbs to all his rivals as a result, but again made much of the running (passed by the wide-running Kid Commando mid-race) to score in the style of a smart prospect, as his expensive purchase from the pointing field would already attest. The winner returned at 8/1, and was followed home by course-and-distance winner and 11/8 favourite Soaring Glory (Jonjo O’Neill/Jonjo Jr).

There was Irish interest in the novices’ handicap chase, Danny Mullins combined with his mother Margaret with Debuchet. Sent off favourite, the grey ran well but reel in the strong-travelling Greaneteen, who kept him at bay with strong staying performance after the last.