Oddschecker Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 2)
DAN Skelton won the Grade 2 Oddschecker Novices’ Hurdle (registered as the Sharp Novices’ Hurdle) for the second consecutive year, with Fortune De Mer (Harry Skelton) finding just enough to win by a short head from Doctor Blue (Sam Thomas/Dylan Johnson) with Jaminska (Jane Williams/Ciaran Gethings) beaten less than a length into third in a pulsating finish. The 14/1 winner was hooded for the first time after finishing third on hurdles bow at Uttoxeter.
Any one of nine looked possible winners between the final two flights, but none had travelled better than the winner, who eased to the front on the run in before being carried left in the closing stages, but a photo showed that he had prevailed by a narrow margin, to emulate Valgrand’s win in the contest 12 months ago.
Dan Skelton said: “It wasn’t such a good run at Uttoxeter the other day, but I hadn’t done much with him, and he has obviously stepped forward a great deal. No doubt the hood has made a difference. He is a funny character. I thought for a minute we weren’t going to be able to run him as he wouldn’t leave the stable block.
“He is full of talent, but just a quirky horse. He is not easy, but Harry gave him a cool ride there, and the more traffic the better. Bless poor Valgrand, who is not with us any more, as he did it from the front, and he did it with a slightly different approach to life. With this one, you have got to be in front for a stride. They are two very different horses, and they are both very talented.
“I will be aiming him at the County Hurdle as there is no doubt that is his race. This track suits him, and when they go a real strong pace that is what he needs. We need five runs, but I will get him there with great skill and guile.”
IN another bid to make the novice chasing programme more engaging and/or competitive, a significant number of Class 3 Novices’ Limited Handicap Chases have been removed from the programme by the BHA and replaced with ‘Chasing Excellence’ Novices’ Chases, run for an increased minimum value of £12,000 at the same class bracket.
The Holland Cooper Chasing Excellence contest didn’t represent such a swap, but did at least produce a competitive race on paper. The race itself saw Alnilam (Olly Murphy/Sean Bowen) and Centara set a strong gallop, while the other quintet were content to bide their time.
Alnilam, the 9/4 joint-favourite, pressed on with four to jump and, although Relieved Of Duties (Gordon Elliott/Danny Gilligan) loomed up to look dangerous on the home turn, Bowen’s mount galloped on strongly to register a four-and-a-half-length win over Relieved Of Duties, with Country Mile (Dan/Harry Skelton), the winner’s market rival, beaten a total of 12 lengths in third. King Of Kingsfield was the disappointment of the race, pulling up having failed to get competitive after a first-fence error.
Murphy said: “He is a good horse. He loves getting on with it. I can’t believe how well he jumps a fence, as he didn’t jump a hurdle well.
“He has got a fair engine. He had them all in trouble at the top of the hill and that is very unusual. It was brilliant. I will speak to Sean, but we might go straight to Sandown Park for a Grade 1 [Henry VIII Novices’ Chase]. I actually think he will be a better horse on slower ground. If you get in a good rhythm around there you can be hard to peg back. He is a tough horse and there are very few Sea The Stars you would see do that.”
Rest of the card
TOM Broughton has caught the eye of a few judges with his riding of late, and was praised by boss Fergal O’Brien after winning the Foundation Developments Conditional Jockeys Handicap Hurdle on Leloopa. The daughter of Wings Of Eagles showed the benefit of a recent wind operation when returning to winning ways in the extended two-mile test to give Broughton his third winner from his last 10 rides at the course. The winner is owned by the Paddy Brennan Racing Syndicate.
O’Brien said: “She has been an amazing buy by Paddy. This mare is unbelievable as she is a pony. It is great for Tom Broughton, who rides her at home. Everyone does a great job with her at home, because you have to dance to her tune a little bit. I’m just delighted for Paddy, his syndicate, and Tom, who works incredibly hard.”
French Ship made amends for capsizing on his return at Chepstow when gaining compensation in the William Hill Each way Extra Handicap Hurdle. The son of French Navy shaped well at Chepstow and belatedly proved himself ahead of the handicapper with a stylish win under Ben Jones. He tended to drift off a straight line on the run in, but hit the line full of running and is likely to win again on this evidence.
The Skelton boys completed a double on the card when stable stalwart Calico landed the squareintheair.com Handicap Chase. He was always handy in beating the Henry de Bromhead-trained Jasko Des Dames, once again illustrating the benefit of racing on the pace over fences on the Old Course, something that the well-backed Smuggler’s Haven (Sara/Lily Bradstock) also did in the Santa - The Visit Amateur Jockeys’ Handicap Chase.