IT was a mixed day for Nicky Henderson, who rightly pointed out that Barry Geraghty’s wellbeing was far more important than what might have happened in the race.

The master of Seven Barrows saddled 10 runners but his only winner was River Wylde, who ran on too strongly for Alan King’s Elgin in the Grade 2 Sky Bet Dovecote Novices’ Hurdle.

Challenging with the runner-up and Peter The Mayo Man as Paul Nicholls’ 7/4 favourite Capitaine faded disappointingly, River Wylde produced a particularly good leap for Nico de Boinville at the last and went away to score by three and a half lengths.

The winner runs in the same colours as Lough Derg Spirit and one of them is expected to line up in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, but trainer and owners have yet to decide which of the pair it will be.

Elgin is likely to be among the opposition, King taking heart from the way he battled back after his error at the last.

Henderson’s best news came earlier in the day when leading Champion Hurdle contender Brain Power proved much too good for Josses Hill (Ryanair) and Peace And Co as the trio galloped a full circuit of the course.

“That’s exactly what I wanted and hoped for,” he said. “Brain Power is exactly where he wants to be and has hardly had a blow.”

The layers were going 8/1 soon after the gallop but most firms had shortened to 15/2 or 7/1 earlier this week. Peace And Co did not pull as hard as he sometimes does and next Saturday’s Imperial Cup at Sandown is under consideration.

FRODON

Henderson quite possibly thought Gold Present was going well enough to thwart Paul Nicholls’ 8/11 favourite Frodon in the four-runner Grade 2 Betbright Pendil Novices’ Chase over the extended two and a half miles but the horse hung badly left in the straight after joining issue with the favourite some way from home.

This was the slight edge Frodon needed and he jumped straight and true, keeping on to score by two lengths. He has done the yard proud, winning valuable events at Cheltenham and Musselburgh and there may well be more to come.

“He got into a good rhythm and I hoped if I could keep a little up my sleeve I could just about hang on,” said winning rider Sam Twiston-Davies.

“He’s only five but he’s very mature and easy to ride, though I wouldn’t be surprised if he swerved Cheltenham.”

Confirming that opinion, Nicholls remarked that Frodon might not want 20 horses around him at the festival and there were other targets similar to last week’s at Aintree and Ayr.

The very valuable Betbright Handicap Chase over three miles went to Neil Mulholland’s virtually unconsidered 25/1 shot Pilgrims Bay, who was given a splendid ride by young James Best.

KIDDED ALONG

Something of a character, the winner has to be kidded along and actually won with something in hand, though the winning margin over Double Shuffle and Theatre Guide was only half a length and the same.

Pilgrims Bay had won only once in five outings over fences but he raced off only 10st 2lb and was soon travelling along very comfortably at the back, despite making minor errors.

He moved up from the 14th and was still on the bridle at the top of the straight, finally moving between the placed horses with Best sitting still.

It was then a question of going on at the right time but he jumped the last so well he had to settle the issue and the response was there when the jockey needed it.

As if to have the last word, Pilgrims Bay unseated him soon after the line but was otherwise on his best behaviour.

“He travelled well the whole way through but you can never be certain he’ll go through with it,” Best explained.

“I still got there too soon, really, but he was good today and saw it out well. It’s the best day of my racing life so far and I’m just grateful to be given the chance by connections.”

Henderson’s mixed day continued as Cocktails At Dawn came down in front of the stands and former Hennessy winner Triolo D’Alene was pulled-up lame. Venetia Williams’ Aso kept on well enough in fourth to suggest there is a good three-mile handicap in him before long.