Mullins looking to Sharjah to seize Red Mills opportunity

/by

Patrick Mullins is confident Sharjah can make the most of having his sights lowered in the Red Mills Trial Hurdle at Gowran Park on Saturday.

The record-breaking amateur has guided the veteran to six of his nine victories over hurdles, a haul which includes a Galway Hurdle, two Morgiana Hurdles and four wins in the Matheson Hurdle at Leopardstown.

But having proved no match for the younger legs of his Champion Hurdle-bound stablemate State Man in either of the latter two contests this season, Sharjah makes a rare appearance outside Grade One company in this weekend’s two-mile Grade Three.

“We skipped the Dublin Racing Festival as he doesn’t seem to run well there, so this seems like a good opportunity for him,” said Mullins, who is assistant to his father, Willie.

“This is his first time to run below Grade One level over hurdles since 2018 so he should enjoy the drop in class. Obviously, he’s got all the penalties and I’d like to think he should be very hard to beat.

“I think the ground will really suit him. Normally we wouldn’t go to Gowran with him at this time of year as it’s usually soft ground, but it’s dry so that will suit.

“Hopefully he can do the business and win a race as prestigious as the Red Mills Trial Hurdle. It’s a big local race for us and I’m delighted to be riding in it.”

Sharjah’s rivals include Gordon Elliott’s pair of Fil Dor and Doctor Bravo, plus Padraig Butler’s course-and-distance winner Da Capo Glory.

Haut En Couleurs in action at Leopardstown
Haut En Couleurs in action at Leopardstown (Niall Carson/PA)

The Mullins team appear to hold all the aces in the Grade Two Red Mills Chase, with champion trainer Willie saddling Haut En Couleurs, Capodanno and Janidil.

Haut En Couleurs is the hot favourite, having looked the likely winner of the Horse & Jockey Hotel Chase at Thurles last month when tipping up the final fence.

“It’ll be a good trial for Cheltenham. They’re sort of Ryanair horses so it’ll be interesting to see how they go in the Red Mills Chase,” Willie Mullins said earlier this week.

“It’s a great opportunity for them with Allaho out and will answer a lot of questions for us.”

Capodanno and Janidil are two of three runners for leading owner JP McManus along with Joseph O’Brien’s stable stalwart Darasso, who won the Red Mills Trial Hurdle on this card four years ago.

O’Brien said: “He’s a brilliant horse to have and has been a superstar for the yard.

“It looks a good race, but hopefully he can collect some more prize money.”

The Two Amigos aiming to do Martin proud once more

/by

Nicky Martin is praying the rain keeps falling for her “little rock star” The Two Amigos who lines up in the Betfred Grand National Trial Handicap Chase at Haydock on Saturday.

The 11-year-old took advantage of a decreased rating to land the Welsh National at Chepstow and now heads to another of his favoured tracks looking to double up in another marathon contest.

That was The Two Amigos’ first win in almost four years and he has been given a chance once again by the handicapper heading to Merseyside off just a 5lb higher rating, while the reports of wet weather in the north west are also exciting Martin.

She said: “He’s my little rock star and hopefully it keeps raining.

“They’ve obviously had rain because the going description has now changed and earlier this week I didn’t think we would be going. But the ground seems to have changed to good to soft and if my weather forecast is correct there is supposed to be further rain to come.

“Chepstow has rejuvenated him and he’s now being really naughty – he’s never been naughty. He’s buzzing. We turned him out the day after the Welsh National and he was full of himself.

“He has just done his normal work for the last five or six weeks and goes there in very good order. We just keep our fingers crossed it goes soft enough.”

Conditional rider David Prichard has been a consistent fixture on board the veteran of late and his 5lb claim allows Martin’s stable stalwart to carry a feather weight once again – something the handler believes is a huge advantage for her pint-sized champion.

“He’s off a good weight again,” she continued. “With David’s claim he’s only got 10st 1lb which I’ve said right from the beginning helps him. He’s a horse who needs little weight in a better race rather than a lot of weight in a lesser quality race. He’s so tiny he just doesn’t cope with a heavy weight now he’s got that little bit older.

David Prichard after winning the Coral Welsh Grand National Handicap Chase on The Two Amigos at Chepstow
David Prichard after winning the Coral Welsh Grand National Handicap Chase on The Two Amigos at Chepstow (David Davies/PA)

“He’s always run well at Haydock when he has completed and he seems to like Haydock like he does Chepstow, so it seems the logical place for us to go.”

Venetia Williams’ Quick Wave was pulled up when 4-1 favourite for the Welsh National won by The Two Amigos and is one of three in the race for the Herefordshire trainer alongside course winner Fontaine Collonges – who is the pick of stable jockey Charlie Deutsch – and Cloudy Glen.

Cloudy Glen runs in the colours of the late Trevor Hemmings, whose racing manager Mick Meagher said: “You’d have to go back to his best form, but if you do he’s finished second in the Kim Muir at Cheltenham and he’s won the Ladbrokes Trophy at Newbury. Those runs are plenty good enough to run and run well in the Grand National, so we’ll see how he goes on Saturday.

“He’s going to be on the borderline with the weights, so he doesn’t want to be losing heavily on Saturday. He’s borderline for the National (on 145), but perhaps with less entries this year you’d hope he’d get in.

caption id=”2.65004841″ width=”4106”]

Cloudy Glen in action at Doncaster

Cloudy Glen in action at Doncaster (Tim Goode/PA)[/caption]

“He’s homebred and he was our first big winner after the boss died, so I’d say he means a lot to the family. Hopefully he can run well on Saturday and seal his place in the Grand National. The boss used to love having runners in the National so it would be nice to carry that tradition on.”

Bristol De Mai has a tremendous record at this track and will be relishing the chance to strut his stuff at his favourite venue once more.

Nigel Twiston-Davies’ 12-year-old was seven-lengths second off a 5lb higher mark in this last year before subsequently being promoted to first following the disqualification of The Galloping Bear.

Sue Smith’s Small Present showed his staying prowess when third in the Lincolnshire National at Market Rasen on Boxing Day, while Omar Moretti is given the chance by Alex Hales to build on a respectable comeback run at Ayr last month.

“I’m really looking forward to him and I’m pleased for Haydock the race has stood up,” said Hales.

“He’s in really good form and I said to his owner that he deserves to have a crack at something decent as we feel he is well handicapped at the moment. He is slightly unexposed and we think there is more in him yet.”

Fortescue won at Ascot on this weekend last year and is one of just four in the race to actually hold an entry for Aintree on April 15 along with Quick Wave, Cloudy Glen and Chris Honour’s Grumpy Charly, while Charlie Longsdon’s Snow Leopardess showed glimpses of her old zest when sixth over the cross-country fences at Cheltenham on Trials Day and is now tried in first-time cheekpieces.

[Alan King’s Notachance was third in Warwick’s Classic Chase when last sighted and will be in his element over this extended distance while Richard Hobson is confident Saint Xavier can add to the course victory he secured earlier in the season.

Saint Xavier, here runing at Sandown, was a winner at Haydock earlier in the season
Saint Xavier, here running at Sandown, was a winner at Haydock earlier in the season (Steven Paston/PA)

“He’s in great order. He could do with the ground being a bit softer but I think every horse in that race is in the same boat,” said Hobson.

“To be fair he won at Auteuil on good to soft ground and he also ran a blinder over two and a half miles on good to soft at Cheltenham earlier in the season, so over this trip I’m not overly worried as long as they are making a nice print.

“He’s got to go another two furlongs (than when winning here in November) but if he gets into that cog and a nice rhythm I think he will stay. He’s a rhythm horse.

“He beat The Two Amigos here before he went on to win at Chepstow and he’s a good horse. He could be dangerous off a mark of 128.”

Donald McCain’s course-and-distance winner Tim Pat, the consistent First Lord De Cuet and Jonjo O’Neill’s Time To Get Up complete the line-up.

Kinondo Kwetu up for Reynoldstown challenge

/by

Sam England’s Kinondo Kwetu will look to strike a blow for the north in the Bateaux London Reynoldstown Novices’ Chase at Ascot on Saturday.

The seven-year-old has been in phenomenal form since last spring, accumulating a winning streak of six successive victories in novice events – one hurdle race and five steeplechases.

His chasing mark rose from 107 to 137 last year alone, and he is now bringing his consistency to a bigger stage as he steps up to Grade Two level.

“He’s had a little break, he’s back in and the ground has come up good so we thought we’d go and have a bash,” said England.

“It’s a good opportunity, he was running in novices over the summer but this is a completely different depth.

“It’s a different kettle of fish, but we’re going there hopeful that he puts in a good run.

Kinondo Kwetu at Aintree
Kinondo Kwetu at Aintree (Nigel French/PA)

“It depends on how much water they’ve put on it, but he likes quick ground and if it’s good they can’t have put too much on it.”

Nicky Henderson has a runner in Bold Endeavour, a seven-year-old who has won both starts this season and is therefore two from three over fences.

The gelding has displayed a habit of jumping slightly right, a tendency that makes rider Nico de Boinville believe running at a right-handed course will be of benefit.

“He has obviously done brilliantly since joining us and he is now up to a mark of 145 after winning at Doncaster last time,” the rider said via his Unibet blog.

“The way he jumped there suggests this return to a right-handed track will suit him, and he had an earlier win on lively ground at Leicester.

Bold Endeavour ridden by jockey Nico de Boinville
Bold Endeavour ridden by jockey Nico de Boinville (Simon Marper/PA)

“He hopefully has a lot more improvement in him, and I think he is probably the one they all have to beat in here. He does step up in trip again, but I can’t see it being an issue myself.”

In the £100,000 LK Bennett Swinley Handicap Chase, Paul Nicholls is represented by Danny Kirwan, a consistent horse last seen missing out by two lengths over course and distance in the London Gold Cup in October.

The bay has further form at Ascot and his trainer expects the quick conditions to suit, saying: “He’s just been waiting for decent ground and a race like this in the spring, he just ran a bit free that day (last time) and Harry (Cobden) held on to him to save him for the last uphill from turning in the straight. He must have a nice chance.”

Danny Kirwan at Wincanton
Danny Kirwan at Wincanton (David Davies/PA)

Richard Hobson runs Old Roan Chase winner Riders Onthe Storm, a narrow winner in the Aintree race in October before returning to the same track to finish 11th in a handicap contest in early December.

This is a step up in trip for the 10-year-old, who will be ridden by Nick Scholfield.

“Riders Onthe Storm is in fabulous form. He’s fresh and well and it’s just a question of whether he stays the trip,” said Hobson.

“I’ve put cheekpieces on him as I do think he’s holding a little bit back and his form can be a little inconsistent.”

Riders Onthe Storm (right) in the Old Roan Chase
Riders Onthe Storm (right) in the Old Roan Chase (Nigel French/PA)

Elsewhere in the race are Venetia Williams duo Laskalin and Farinet, with Harry Fry also saddling a pair of runners in Phoenix Way and Revels Hill.

Gary Moore’s Dorking Lad, David Pipe’s Neon Moon, Nigel Twiston-Davies’ One True King and Philip Hobbs’ Sporting John are others lining up, with Olly Murphy and Tom Lacey sending off a runner each in The Wolf and Nocte Volatus respectively.

The veteran of the field is Anthony Honeyball’s 15-year-old Regal Encore, winner of the contest in 2018 and a real Ascot specialist. Christian Williams’ Cap Du Nord completes the contenders.

Johnson hails ‘great role model’ as Scudamore bows out

/by

Former champion jockey and weighing-room colleague Richard Johnson has led the tributes to Tom Scudamore following the announcement of his immediate retirement.

Scudamore partnered over 1,500 winners, taking him into the top 10 most successful National Hunt jockeys of all time, a list in which Johnson also proudly sits.

While Scudamore never managed to emulate his father, Peter, and be crowned champion, he spent most of his career up against the record-breaking Sir Anthony McCoy.

“Tom is a great fella and was always brilliant to ride against and sit next to in the weighing room, so I’m surprised but at the same time he’s had a fantastic career and I’m not shocked he’s decided this is the right time for him,” said Johnson.

Richard Johnson (right) with Sir Anthony McCoy
Richard Johnson (right) with Sir Anthony McCoy (David Davies/PA)

“It was the same with me. In your own head if you are happy, that’s the right time.

“He’s been a brilliant jockey but even better than that, he’s a great role model for the young jockeys coming through. He has conducted himself brilliantly over the last 20 years and he’s got a lot to be proud of.

“He’s had a very consistent career, obviously he’s had a great association with the Pipes, he was great to deal with and easy to get on with which is important.

“I’m a little bit surprised, but delighted he’s gone out on his own terms. He’s got children and I can assure him he won’t be bored because with children you are busier after you retire!

“As a jockey you are always looking for good horses. He had plenty but then Thistlecrack came along and he was his main horse and the one people will associate with him winning the King George and those types of races.

“When people were looking for a jockey if their normal jockey was injured, Tom was always one of the names to be sought after so he’s got a lot to be proud of.”

Peter Scudamore (left), Tom's father, was a former champion jockey
Peter Scudamore (left), Tom’s father, was a former champion jockey (Mike Egerton/PA)

Peter Scudamore, a multiple champion jockey himself, knew the day was coming but admitted to still feeling a little “numb”.

“It’s mixed emotions. We’ve been very close throughout all his riding career. Most days we spoke,” he said.

“There is an element of surprise, but at the same time there is a feeling of relief. He’s 40 years of age, so I suppose it was inevitable one day.

“I wasn’t shocked, but a little numb I suppose I would say.

“I had lots of records in my career but I think he’s got more than that, he’s got huge respect within the industry and perhaps I should have taken a leaf out of his book!

“The one day that always sticks out in my career is Next Sensation in the Grand Annual, trained by his brother, Michael.

“I was stood with Luce (Lucinda Russell) in the stand by the second-last so we could just see the last fence. On the first circuit the horse made a terrible mistake and he went down and I thought it was all over, but he came back up again.

“It was AP’s (McCoy) final ride at the Festival, it was a very emotional race, my dad had won it and I’d won it too so that was very special.

“I might have ridden more winners than Tom, but in Thistlecrack he rode a horse probably better than I ever came across. Some may say Carvills Hill, but Thistlecrack achieved more on the track.

“He’s made me very proud.”

Thistlecrack was imperious when winning the King George in 2016
Thistlecrack was imperious when winning the King George in 2016 (Julian Herbert/PA)

Scudamore did not ride many for Colin Tizzard but after winning the Grade One Sefton Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree on Thistlecrack, it was a partnership that was never broken.

Tizzard concentrated on Scudamore’s achievements out of the saddle and simply said: “He was a credit to the industry.

“Everyone else can say whatever they want about him as a jockey, I’ll leave that to them, but he was a credit to the industry.”

Scudamore was linked to the Pond House stables of Martin and then David Pipe throughout his career and the latter tweeted: “Happy retirement @tommyscu!!

“Thank you for your support, dedication, hard work & talent in the saddle for all these years! We have made a great team and share some wonderful memories & fantastic winners. I’m glad you’re going on your own terms and wish you well for the future.”

Tom Scudamore happy to retire on his own terms

/by

Tom Scudamore is looking to the future after surprising the racing world by announcing his immediate retirement from riding on Friday morning.

The 40-year-old partnered over 1,500 winners his 25-year career in the saddle and he bows out with 10 Cheltenham Festival winners to his credit, highlighted by Thistlecrack’s World Hurdle win in 2016.

Scudamore took his last ride at Leicester on Thursday and after being unseated from Ya Know Yaseff, he decided now was the right time, although he is eager to maintain his presence in the sport.

He said: “I’ve had a fantastic time and all good things must come to end and unfortunately my time has come. Time waits for no man and I don’t see it as retirement, just a job change.

“I’m going to take stock, but I’ve got options to work in the media, I’m going to continue being an ambassador in my relationship with Coral and I’d like to stay involved in some way, shape or form.

“I’ve built a lot of good relationships in racing and I’d like to use those to best effect. I’ve got lots of options and lots of things in the pipeline, I’ve got plenty to look forward to.”

Tom Scudamore (left) with father Peter Scudamore (right) and Donald McCain
Tom Scudamore (left) with father Peter Scudamore (right) and Donald McCain (Steve Davies/PA)

The rider hails from a racing dynasty, with his father Peter an eight-times champion jockey over jumps, while his grandfather Michael rode Oxo to victory in the 1959 Grand National. His brother, Michael, is also a successful trainer.

Scudamore rode his first winner in 1998 and recorded his best seasonal tally in the 2014-15 campaign when he partnered 150 winners.

He also enjoyed a long association with the David Pipe yard, following in the footsteps of his father who was stable jockey for Pipe’s father, Martin.

When asked if he might consider joining his brother in a training career, Scudamore replied: “That is an option. Michael is doing a fantastic job on his own, whether that’s with Michael or with David, I will always be there and helping out in some way. Whether that is with owners or schooling or buying horses for them, I will be involved everywhere.

“I will just let the dust settle and see where we are. I want to stay involved somehow.”

Tom Scudamore salutes the Kempton crowd aboard Thistlecrack
Tom Scudamore salutes the Kempton crowd aboard Thistlecrack (Julian Herbert/PA)

Thistlecrack would be the star name among Scudamore’s high-profile winners, having supplemented his 2016 Festival victory with a famous King George VI Chase success later that year.

Scudamore is reluctant to pick out a favourite horse, but believes he owes much to the Pipe-trained Lough Derg, who gave him a string of big-race victories, including the 2007 Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot.

“Thistlecrack was fantastic, he would have been the most talented horse I got to ride and I got to ride some lovely horses,” said Scudamore.

“If it wasn’t for Lough Derg, he got me going on the big scale and every jockey needs that horse for a Saturday. If it wasn’t for Lough Derg, none of the other things would have taken place.

“I owe him an awful lot and he gave me so many great days. It would be wrong to single out a particular horse or anything, but if wasn’t for him none of the others would have been possible.”

Next Sensation sparked joyous scenes for the Scudamore family at Cheltenham
Next Sensation sparked joyous scenes for the Scudamore family at Cheltenham (John Giles/PA)

Scudamore registered a record-equalling three wins in the Coral Gold Trophy and while admitting a fondness for Newbury, he points to Next Sensation’s Grand Annual success for his brother as a particularly memorable win.

He said: “Winning the Coral Gold Trophy three times was a huge buzz, winning the big races round Newbury because it is my favourite course to ride around. Winning the World Hurdle and King George was great, but the one that gave me most pleasure was the Festival winner for my brother and family. That did give me a lot of joy.”

This year’s Cheltenham Festival is now only a matter of weeks away and although Scudamore will not take up his usual place in the weighing room, he is looking forward to savouring the occasion from the other side of the rails.

He added: “I will be there every day in some capacity or other, I’m looking forward to it. We’re all fans of racing and I can watch with a more open mind again now.”

Tom Scudamore calls time on riding career

/by

Tom Scudamore has announced his retirement from the saddle with immediate effect.

The 40-year-old made the decision to call time on his riding career after being unseated from Ya Know Yaseff at Leicester on Thursday, with the fall prompting him to reassess the future.

He told the Daily Mail: “I had a concussion 10 days ago and I have been concussed a few times in the past. At my age you have to be careful. I feel I have had a bit of a warning and falls I could take in the past are harder to take now.

Thistlecrack's King George win was one of Scudamore's career highlights
Thistlecrack’s King George win was one of Scudamore’s career highlights (Julian Herbert/PA)

“There was no concussion after my fall at Leicester but I got a right kicking and I thought I have had my warning now.

“Not everybody gets to go out on their own terms but I am. I am not retiring, I am just changing job, although I don’t know what that job will be yet!”

Scudamore rode over 1,500 winners during his career, with Thistlecrack’s 2016 victories in both the Stayers’ Hurdle and King George VI Chase his most high-profile successes.

Peter and Tom Scudamore
Peter and Tom Scudamore (Mike Egerton/PA)

The rider hails from a racing dynasty, with his father Peter an eight-times champion jockey over jumps, while his grandfather Michael rode Oxo to victory in the 1959 Grand National. His brother, Michael, is also a successful trainer.

Scudamore rode his first winner in 1998 and recorded his best seasonal tally in the 2014-15 campaign when he partnered 150 winners.

He also enjoyed a long association with the David Pipe yard, following in the footsteps of his father who was stable jockey for Pipe’s father, Martin.

Oisin Murphy makes winning comeback at Chelmsford

/by

Oisin Murphy made a winning return to the saddle at Chelmsford on Thursday evening, following his 14-month ban for alcohol and Covid breaches.

The three-time champion jockey had just the one ride when partnering the Mick Appleby-trained Jupiter Express in the second race on the card, the Winning Connections Networking Handicap.

He had not ridden in public since November 2021 – but wasted little time in getting on the scoresheet, travelling smoothly on the inner aboard the 15-8 favourite and swinging into contention on the home bend.

There was no catching The Horse Watchers-owned four-year-old from there and he was always holding runner-up Thismydream, scoring by half a length at the line.

“It’s fantastic (to be back),” Murphy told Racing TV after the race.

“It’s been a while, but it’s brilliant to be back on the racecourse and to also ride a winner as well.

“I’m quite fit and I really enjoyed that. Even the banter in the weighing room I really missed that.”

He added of Jupiter Express: “We felt like we could sit on the rail just behind the leaders and the horse was coming into the race in good form.

“It was a relatively easy job for me and great to get another winner for these connections who are quite shrewd with their purchases and they make effort to put them in the right races. So it was very pleasing to see me jocked up a few days ago for this horse.

Jupiter Express and Oisin Murphy (centre) coming home to win the Winning Connections Networking Handicap at Chelmsford City Racecourse
Jupiter Express and Oisin Murphy (centre) coming home to win the Winning Connections Networking Handicap at Chelmsford City Racecourse (John Walton/PA)

“I hit the front plenty soon and I felt for this grade the pace was quite strong and we were always going to be vulnerable to a closer if hitting the front before the furlong pole, so sharpness-wise I’m going to have to keep thinking about racing all the time and hopefully that instinct will come back quickly. But I will be making every effort to make sure I’m riding as well as I can.”

Murphy will now head to Qatar at the weekend to ride Flaming Rib for Hugo Palmer with trips to Dubai, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain also pencilled in over the next few weeks and he hopes his match sharpness will soon return.

He continued: “I’ve been riding out throughout my suspension and it can’t replicate race-riding. That competitiveness and sharpness to make decisions it doesn’t really matter grade or what distance, that only comes from race-riding.

“It was quite a long time to find new jobs and tasks to get through the day. Obviously you ride out but that only kills a few hours a day and I got into a routine of focussing on my show jumpers and riding and training them outside of the mornings and I really enjoyed going to some big show jumping competitions and watching horses taking part.

Oisin Murphy on Jupiter Express after winning the Winning Connections Networking Handicap at Chelmsford City Racecourse
Oisin Murphy on Jupiter Express after winning the Winning Connections Networking Handicap at Chelmsford City Racecourse (John Walton/PA)

“I also kept my eye in by going racing, I was at Royal Ascot and also Glorious Goodwood and my main trainer Andrew Balding had a terrific year last year and I remained part of that success I felt anyway.

“That was a brilliant motivation to go forward and a major factor in having this day as my focus for such a long period.”

The British Horseracing Authority announced last week Murphy will undergo increased alcohol and drug testing after he was found to have failed two racecourse breathalyser tests, at Chester and Newmarket.

At the conclusion of a hearing in February last year it was revealed he also breached Covid rules by lying about his whereabouts in September 2020, visiting the Greek island of Mykonos, which was on the Covid ‘red list’ at the time, but attempting to convince officials he had been at Lake Como in Italy.

Murphy – who told BBC Sport in June last year he had experienced alcoholic blackouts during the period which ultimately led to his suspension – was keen to pay tribute to the support provided his employer Qatar Racing and also long-time ally Balding, while also expressing a desire to atone for his errors.

“Realistically (what I did) it was very silly and I made many, many errors that I wish I hadn’t done,” he added.

“I was given a period of time to think about that and come back with a different mindset. Hopefully over next year and the following years I can prove to be the person I hope to be.”

On his reception and welcome back, he said: “It’s been incredible, when you start naming people you leave people out, but from my family to the Baldings to the whole of the Qatar Racing team, I never felt left out.”

Delight for Snowden, as You Wear It Well powers home at Sandown

/by

You Wear It Well will head to Cheltenham after showing her class in the Weatherbys Cheltenham Festival Betting Guide Jane Seymour Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle at Sandown.

The Jamie Snowden-trained six-year-old advertised her potential with a pair of clear-cut victories in novice contests in the early stages of the season – and looked the one to beat in this Grade Two contest having chased home Paul Nicholls’ highly-regarded Ballymore favourite Hermes Allen in the Challow Hurdle on New Year’s Eve, a race that has worked out tremendously well.

Sent off the 5-4 favourite in the hands of Gavin Sheehan, the daughter of Midnight Legend quickly hit the front to lead the field of five in the early stages.

Halfway down the back Bridget Andrews made an enterprising move on one of the original backmarkers, She’s A Saint, by circling the field and then going on from You Wear It Well as the runners span the turn for home.

However, Sheehan was in no rush to wrestle back the advantage and simply allowed his mount to draw level with Dan Skelton’s 15-2 chance at the second-last before kicking clear to record a seven-and-a-half length success in the closing stages, with She’s A Saint gamely plugging on for the silver medal.

The winner holds entries in both the Ryanair Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle and Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle at Prestbury Park next month, but her handler refused to be drawn on which of her possible engagements would be taken.

He said: “We didn’t really have a plan going out there to be honest, it was a five-horse race and all five have gone on in the past, so I said to Gavin to do what he wanted as he knows her so well.

“I think she was kind of dossing to be honest and when Bridget came past it probably just helped her out a little bit. She looked really good. I look forward to the argument with Chips! (Sir Chips Keswick, owner).”

Meanwhile, Sheehan was keen to evidence the case for the the mares’ only option – with Betfair going 10-1 from 16s for the shorter of the two races.

He explained: “On paper there was going to be lots of speed and that was my plan, to cover her up and just kind of come through.

“She’s one of those who could stay three miles, but I think she can also run over two. I think the mares’ race at Cheltenham would suit. It’s run on the track which is more for stayers, so even though it’s over two miles and no matter what at Cheltenham you’re going to be flat out – so you need to stay.”

No Cheltenham, but Keighley excited at what the future holds for Shinji

/by

Shinji, who showed plenty of promise when finishing third in a Newbury bumper on Saturday, will bypass the championship event at Cheltenham.

The Kingston Hill gelding, owned by Louise Jones, gave Flat trainer Roget Varian his first success in the National Hunt code with an eyecatching nine-length success at Fakenham in November.

He subsequently joined Martin Keighley and under Sam Twiston-Davies was only beaten two and a half lengths by Aslukgoes at Newbury.

“I was thrilled with Shinji,” said Keighley.

“Sam said he must have some engine to pull as hard as he did. He said he basically ran away with him until he eventually settled in front.

“If he’d have settled from the start, he would probably have won. He is a most exciting horse.”

However, his Condicote-based handler is not keen to run him at the Cheltenham Festival, as he lacks experience.

“He had one run for Roger Varian and he won impressively that day, but he didn’t really beat much. Aidan Coleman still said he did it well, though.

“I think it is too much to ask for a four-year-old to run in a Champion Bumper. He would go to Aintree, I’d say.

“He will make an exciting hurdler for next season. We have schooled him and he jumps well, so we’re looking forward to him.

“He will get further. He is a real strong stayer – he must be to pull as hard as he did (at Newbury) and still hit the line so well.”

Keighley has his string in great heart, and Prairie Diamond was the yard’s fifth winner in the last fortnight when scoring on his debut in the bumper at Hereford on Wednesday.

“They are in really good form at the moment. I’m really pleased with Prairie Diamond,” added the handler.

“He is a big baby, but he came in late. I still own three-quarters of him, so I will have to sell the rest of him now.”

Monty’s Star shines in one-two for De Bromhead in Clonmel feature

/by

Henry de Bromhead enjoyed a one-two in the Surehaul Mercedes-Benz Novice Hurdle at Clonmel, as Monty’s Star booked his Cheltenham ticket in claiming a first career victory ahead of better-fancied stablemate Hiddenvalley Lake.

Monty’s Star had finished second in a Navan maiden on his jumping debut last month, subsequently coming into the Clonmel Grade Three as a 7-1 chance under Sean Flanagan with Hiddenvalley Lake the 8-13 favourite.

Under Rachael Blackmore Hiddenvalley Lake led at a canter as Monty’s Star stayed in his slipstream until the field turned for home.

The pair then locked horns over the final two flights, with Monty’s Star winning the battle to discard his maiden tag in prevailing by half a length on the line, giving Flanagan a second winner back since his return from a back injury suffered in a heavy fall at Thurles in October.

“I’m delighted with that and Sean gave him a great ride. He has taken a long time, he is a big, big horse and ran really well in his maiden hurdle at Navan when he was a bit green,” De Bromhead said.

“He had done a season with Colin Bowe (point-to-point handler), but is so big and raw. He has just taken all this time, it is amazing, so you’d hope he will continue to improve and he has the size and scope of a chaser. He has the pedigree as well (a half-brother to Gold Cup winner Monalee, in the same Barry Maloney colours).

“We tried this race in the past with (Minella) Indo and Monalee so we said we’d give it a go to see would he stay and he duly did. He is in the Albert Bartlett and that’s where we’re going now.”

Of his other runner he added: “I think Hiddenvalley Lake ran well but struggled on the ground, which is tough, and he’ll be better for better ground. He was also giving away weight.

“He is also in the Albert Bartlett and is entitled to go, but we’ll see what everyone wants to do. Indo was beaten by Allaho in this race a few years ago so it is a good race.”