Channor Real Estate Group Novice Hurdle (Grade 1)

FOR a rider as stylish and polished as Paul Townend, there are surely very few pictures of him riding Grade 1 winners in the style that he crossed the line aboard Jasmin De Vaux in the Channor Real Estate Group Novice Hurdle.

After being shifted one way as his Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle-winning mount appeared to lean the other, the 2024/’25 champion jockey lost his right iron before kicking out the other on the run to the last.

Thankfully, the Simon Munir and Isaac Souede-owned six-year-old was in full cry by that stage and motored home to get the better of Aintree Grade 1 winner Honesty Policy, who posted a fine effort in defeat but ultimately came up half a length short.

Jumping has been the 2024 Champion Bumper hero’s Achilles Heel this season. However, even with the late scare at the last, this was probably his most complete jumping performance to date.

“I feel a bit stupid to be honest," Townend said of the final-flight incident.

“We all know what way he jumps. I just asked him for one at the last and he got his ass a bit high. He had a peck and I don't know; my weight went one way and he kind of shifted at the wrong time.

“I lost my right stirrup and I thought it was quicker to kick out the other one and ride for the finish rather than try to get it back. We were building up a head of steam at the last and I just needed that one jump. He has improved so much in his jumping throughout the year but there is still room for improvement.”

The point-to-point graduate was trimmed to 10/1 (from 14/1) for next year’s Stayers’ Hurdle and tightened to 10/1 (from 12/1) with some firms for the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase.

Townend said: “He's a very good horse with a huge engine. He jumped better on the whole, still though you're riding him into every hurdle. He takes a bit of nursing around, but he is getting the hang of it.”

Mullins, who is considering a chasing campaign next season for the winner, added: "It was great jockeyship by Paul to stay in the saddle. This horse has got a huge engine, maybe he'll jump fences better; I don't know. If you can just get him near the winning post, get him over his hurdles without losing too much ground, he's able to make it up on the flat.”