Challow Hurdle (Grade 1)

THE Grade 1 Challow Hurdle has been won four times by Paul Nicholls, and joining the names of Cornish Rebel, Denman and Bravemansgame this season was that of Stage Star (Harry Cobden), who ran out a decisive winner by six-and-a-half-length winner from West Balboa (Dan/Harry Skelton), with Gringo D’Aubrelle (Gordon Elliott/Denis O’Regan) beaten just over 10 lengths into third.

The 5/4 favourite impressed with the slickness of his jumping, in contrast to some of his rivals, and he got to the front readily at the second-last flight before putting the race to bed in a matter of strides.

Performance

He looks very professional, but remains open to improvement when asked a bigger question, although Nicholls was again talking Cheltenham Festival expectations down: “Stage Star is a proper horse and that was a very taking performance. Harry was quite surprised how well he won and said that although he stays, he’s got so much speed. He’ll be a lovely chaser in time.

“He’ll need a little break after this, and I’ll talk to the team about the Festival. I’m not afraid to wait until Aintree with them, and I wouldn’t want to go three miles with him, so the only race at Cheltenham would be the Ballymore.”

Around The Tracks

WETHERBY’s Christmas fixture used to feature two important trials, with the Castleford Chase roll of honour featuring such greats as Tingle Creek, Rathgorman, Badsworth Boy and Pearlyman, while the Rowland Meyrick has been won by subsequent Gold Cup heroes Forgive ‘N Forget and The Thinker.

The former contest is a non-graded handicap these days, but the Rowland Meyrick retains Grade 3 status, and was won this year by the game front runner Good Boy Bobby (Nigel/Sam Twiston-Davies), who benefited from the fall of Empire Steel – that horse having moved up to join the winner when coming down at the fourth-last fence – to win from Lord Du Mesnil (Richard Hobson/Kielan Woods) and Top Ville Ben (Phil Kirby/Tommy Dowson).

The winner was sent off at 4/1 after a solid second in the Rehearsal Chase. He showed plenty of resolution on the heavy ground to fend off the placed horses.

The gelding was a smart bumper performer who lost his way a little over fences last term, but has come back better than ever and has settled down considerably since his early days when he needed earplugs to contain his enthusiastic style. His trainer hopes he will continue to thrive, and has one eye firmly on the Grand National in April.

Takingrisks, the winner of nine races, including the 2019 Scottish Grand National, failed to fire and was pulled up.

He was immediately retired by trainer Nicky Richards, and is another fine servant who deserves to enjoy a long and happy retirement given the pleasure he’s given over the years.

Superior rival

Good Boy Bobby’s connections gained further blacktype when Zambella carried the double green of Munir and Souede to victory in the Yorkshire Silver Vase Mares’ Chase at Doncaster on Wednesday. She was given a fairly easy task to gain her fifth win at listed level, beating Crossgalesfamegame by 15 lengths. At the same level, Paul Nicholls and Harry Cobden struck in the Byerley Stud Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle at Taunton on Thursday with Rainyday Woman.

That was also good news for the mare’s former owner and trainer, Pam Sly, who bred the winner from her useful racemare Wistow, a winner over hurdles and fences in Sly’s familiar colours of ‘Dark Blue, Grey sleeves, Pink cap’.