PAUL Nicholls is understandably proud of the way former assistant Harry Fry has blossomed and another prestigious success came the trainer’s way when Bitofapuzzle landed Ascot’s Grade 2 OLBG Mares’ Hurdle over three miles.
The seven-year-old dictated from the start with runner-up Carole’s Spirit and finally took advantage of the 5lb weight concession to beat her by half a length with the rallying Land Of Vic closing them both down on the run to the line.
Bitofapuzzle (5/2 favourite) stayed the trip well and made up for her only defeat at Haydock last time.
She looks to have more improvement in her and is in the same sponsors’ Mares’ Hurdle at Cheltenham, though that is over two and a half miles and she seems to need further. She was initiating a double for Noel Fehily, who cannot go wrong at present.
“Noel gave her a brilliant ride,” Fry enthused. “She is as tough as nails and certainly wants three miles.”
Carole’s Spirit, runner-up in this for the second year in a row, is a credit to Robert Walford and went down bravely, having tried to concede 5lb all round.
Daryl Jacob gave her every possible chance and continues to impress. He had earlier won the novices’ handicap chase on Colin Tizzard’s Kings Lad, another 5/2 chance.
BARADARI GETS UP
These days it would not seem like Saturday if Venetia Williams went home empty-handed and the Herefordshire trainer took the valuable Keltbray Holloway’s Hurdle, a Grade 2 limited handicap, with 11/2 shot Baradari.
The winner was finding plenty following an unplaced effort in the Greatwood at Cheltenham but attracted support at 11/2. Stepping up to just short of two and a half miles, he finally got to the well-treated Lyvius, prevailing by a neck after Nicky Henderson’s seven-year-old had looked like ending a barren spell.
“I thought after his fifth in the Fred Winter that a step-up in trip might help,” Williams said. “He jumps well for a small horse. We may go for a Pertemps Qualifier next time or there’s the possibility of the Coral Cup.”
Henderson had a mixed day but his young hurdlers are doing him proud. For a 30/100 favourite Top Notch had to work quite hard to hold Golden Doyen in the opening juvenile hurdle, while Out Sam (4/9) was also driven out by Barry Geraghty to claim the novices’ race over two and three-quarter miles.
Top Notch is 14/1 with some firms for the Triumph Hurdle but owners Simon Munir and Isaac Souede have warm favourite Peace And Co (in action at Cheltenham today) and others for that.
More interesting might be a tilt at the very valuable Betfair Hurdle at Newbury, where novices have a good record. Top Notch’s penalty gives him a fair chance of making the line-up. There is no better 7lb claimer currently operating than Jack Sherwood and the youngster took the bet365 Handicap Chase on 12/1 shot Rebel Rebellion for boss Paul Nicholls.