Tag Archive for: Kempton

Pic D’Orhy chasing another big Saturday success for Nicholls

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Paul Nicholls looks to hold all the aces in the Coral Silviniaco Conti Chase as he seeks to win the Kempton contest for the third time.

The Ditcheat handler has been in unstoppable form of late and could add further big-race Saturday success with Pic D’Orhy who heads the betting for the two-and-a-half-mile contest.

The seven-year-old won the Pendil Novices’ Chase over course and distance last season and made it two from two for the current campaign when making all to land the Peterborough Chase in fine style at Huntingdon last month.

“He wouldn’t want the ground going too soft, but he won the Peterborough as he liked last time, beating a sensible field at Huntingdon,” said the champion trainer’s stable jockey, Harry Cobden.

“I know he’s not the highest-rated horse in the world, but I think he’s still improving actually.

“He’s just turned eight and he’s got a bit of scope to improve.

“The betting has got it right on form – he’s got to be the one to beat, I think.”

Also representing the all-conquering Ditcheat team is Saint Calvados, who proved much too keen when making his first appearance for owner-rider David Maxwell in the two-runner Chanelle Pharma 1965 Chase at Ascot in November.

David Maxwell will ride Saint Calvados in the Coral Silviniaco Conti Chase
David Maxwell will ride Saint Calvados in the Coral Silviniaco Conti Chase (John Walton/PA)

“The hood will quieten him down and I imagine he’ll be less strong with a few more runners – he needs a bit of cover,” said Maxwell.

“He’s nice, but I must admit I was a bit surprised by how strong he was when I rode him at Ascot. This should suit him a bit better, he should get a decent pace and I think he’ll go well.

“I’m just going to steer round tucked in third or fourth and see how we go, but I think he’ll go well and obviously Paul’s horses are in great form.”

It was Coole Cody who denied Saint Calvados at Ascot and the Cheltenham Festival winner is once again raced in graded company by handler Evan Williams.

“It’s a very very competitive race, but I don’t want to run him in handicaps where he’s giving chunks of weight away,” said the Llancarfan-based handler.

“So we’ll just keep trying our best in these types of races and see how we get on. He’s a smashing old horse and he’s been brilliant.”

Fergal O’Brien’s Paint The Dream was an emphatic 14-length winner at Newbury when last sighted, a victory that makes him highest-rated runner in the field.

Tom George’s course winner Clondaw Castle was second in this contest two years ago and drops back in trip having failed to land a blow when swimming in deep waters in the Betfair Chase, while the six-strong line-up is rounded off by Angels Breath, who makes his stable debut for Sam Thomas following 1,121 days off the track.

Green light for Irish raider after ferry problems threatened to derail Lanzarote bid

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Green Glory is primed to continue his progression in the Coral Lanzarote Handicap Hurdle after overcoming travel problems.

The Charles Byrnes-trained Irish raider was a bumper winner at last year’s Punchestown Festival and following some encouraging efforts in defeat in maiden hurdles finally opened his account on handicap debut at Leopardstown over the Christmas period.

That saw the six-year-old head the betting for this competitive affair – but inclement weather interrupting the ferry schedules had put his participation in doubt.

However, having battled the wind and rain, Byrnes reported Green Glory had made it to the Sunbury track safely and he can now look forward to seeing how he gets on in this £100,000 contest.

“He’s OK, he arrived at Kempton at seven o’clock Friday morning,” said Byrnes.

“They took him on the half eight on Thursday night, but they were waiting for an hour and a half at Holyhead going into dock, so instead of the sailing taking three and a half hours it took five hours. Then the drive down was windy enough.

“But he’s there now that’s the main thing and he should have enough time to recover.

“We’re looking forward to the race now, hopefully the ground doesn’t come up heavy, but it is what it is. He has a nice weight, but it is a step up in grade from a novice handicap to an open handicap.

“It’s a nice pot and he’s in good form, so we’ll hope for the best.”

The best of the home contingent could well be Paul Nicholls’ Outlaw Peter, who followed up a second in the Persian War by romping to a 19-length success at Exeter in November.

Outlaw Peter could give Paul Nicholls a fourth win in the Coral Lanzarote Handicap Hurdle
Outlaw Peter could give Paul Nicholls a fourth win in the Coral Lanzarote Handicap Hurdle (David Davies/PA)

“I think he’s got a good chance,” said big-race rider Harry Cobden. “I’m not saying he’s well handicapped, but I think he’s got a good, fair mark and he’s in good form. He could be a horse that might just progress a little bit.

“It’s a big field, so we’ll have to have our wits about us.”

Harry Fry’s Dubrovnik Harry and Alan King’s Greatwood Hurdle third Harbour Lake are others high up in the betting lists, while Dan Skelton has had this race in mind for West Balboa for some time and believes his seven-year-old has a “fair chance” of hitting the target.

He said: “I think she’ll like the track. I’ve had this race in mind for her for a while and I think she has a fair chance.”

Ben Case’s Cobblers Dream will attempt to become the first horse in the race’s history to retain the Lanzarote Hurdle as he reverts to the smaller obstacles.

“He just didn’t jump as well as I would have liked over fences in his first two starts,” said Case.

Kempton Park Races – Saturday 15th January
Cobblers Dream ridden by Jack Quinlan goes on to win the Coral Lanzarote Handicap Hurdle at Kempton Park last year (Steven Paston/PA)

“He hasn’t run badly, he just didn’t run brilliantly and it was either we continue pursuing jumping fences and hope he gets better as he goes along, or go back over hurdles and I thought we would do that and revisit fences if we wanted in the autumn.

“Timing-wise the Lanzarote suited and seemed to fit in if we were to go back over hurdles.

“You couldn’t say he has done badly at the beginning of this season and he obviously did well last year. It’s just we knew we were on an upwards curve last year and whether we have got to our handicap mark or not we’ll find out on Saturday.

“I think it will be quite hard work round there on Saturday, so it’ll be a test for everybody.”

Jane Williams’ string is in fine form and she believes Hermes Boy could be ideally placed if conditions turn testing at the Sunbury track.

She said: “He’s got the right sort of profile for the race and we think he wants a bit more of a trip. He’s had a couple of really nice runs recently, his last two have been super.

“The horses are flying at home, he seems really well and this was always a tentative target for him. We’ve won it a few times in the past and it’s our sort of race really.”

“The conditions are spot on and at the end of the day you can only train your own horse, so if you think the conditions are right then you have to give it a go.

“We’re lucky we just got in at the weights, we’re a bit on the low side and we would prefer to be a bit higher in the weights. But actually, if the ground does come up soft or gets really bad, our horses seem to cope with it and we have a nice weight for dealing with those conditions.”

Meanwhile Joe Tizzard’s Scarface has been foot-perfect this season and looks to seal a hat-trick on his handicap bow.

“We were odds-on for his return and he had to win and then at Ascot last time he did it the hard way,” said Tizzard.

“It didn’t suit him making all and he was dossing and that. He made a mistake at the last and then battled back.

“So he’s done good and we just thought we’d have a crack and see where we are handicap wise.

“I think he’s got a manageable mark and he’ll love the ground. Two-mile-five round there on hard-work ground will be right up his street.”

Byrnes hoping weather relents in time to get Green Glory to Kempton

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Charles Byrnes has his fingers crossed Coral Lanzarote Hurdle favourite Green Glory will be able to line up at Kempton on Saturday despite encountering problems in his efforts to cross the Irish Sea.

The six-year-old heads the market at 9-2 with the sponsors for the ultra-competitive two-mile-five-furlong handicap on the back of opening his hurdles account at Leopardstown over the Christmas period.

But his bid to quickly double his tally over timber has hit a stumbling block with the current inclement weather halting Byrnes’ plans to travel Green Glory on the ferry from Dublin.

He said: “It looks a nice race for him, but our biggest problem at the moment though is travelling.

“We haven’t been able to get on the ferry. We’re going to try again tonight, but I don’t think it’s looking great.

“We’ll try again first thing in the morning and if they don’t take livestock then we won’t be travelling. It’s as simple as that and the biggest problem at the moment. It (the weather) seems to be worse in Holyhead than it is in Dublin.

“We could come over tomorrow but it is cutting it very fine to get settled in and is not ideal. If we can get travelling tomorrow morning we’ll probably come over. If they don’t let us on the half eight though, we won’t be travelling any later than that.”

For now all Byrnes – who has his plane ticket booked to attend Kempton – can do is hope for an upturn in conditions which will allow his progressive hurdler to take his chance.

He continued: “It is what it is and we can’t change that. We’ve got the flight booked and all set to go, so fingers crossed we get travelling.”

Christian Williams looking to a familiar friend to kick-start 2023

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Christian Williams is ready to ramp up the pace after a quiet start to 2023, and hopes staying chaser Kitty’s Light can take one of the big prizes over the coming months.

The Glamorgan handler may have lost last season’s Eider and Scottish National winner Win My Wings to injury and subsequent retirement, but in Kitty’s Light he has a horse who can help to fill the void.

The seven-year-old, who was runner-up to his stablemate at Ayr in April, will tread a familiar path, starting with Saturday’s three-mile Coral Racing Club Handicap Chase at Kempton, in which he was sent off favourite last year.

He was then placed in the Coral Trophy at Kempton, Scottish National and Bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown.

“We’ve been a bit quiet, as the six-monthly flu jabs came in and knocked a few,” said Williams.

“We have Kitty’s Light on Saturday, then we have plenty to enter up.

“He seems well, obviously he wants a bit better ground, but it drains quick at Kempton.

“Kitty’s is rated 135 now. His last win was in March, two years ago, and he’s back to that (mark), so he’s got a chance, anyway.”

Though a consistent stayer, he will need to improve a few pounds to get into the Grand National at Aintree, and Williams added: “I wouldn’t have thought he was a National-type horse, but there are plenty of races outside of that.

“We’ll look at the Scottish National, the bet365 and the Coral Trophy again – they are valuable races.”

Last season’s Coral Trophy hero, Cap Du Nord, will head to Doncaster for his next start in a race where he is a standing dish.

“Cap Du Nord seems to click in at that time of year and he runs well in the Sky Bet Chase most years. He’s in that and he usually goes to the Coral Trophy  after that,” added the Ogmore-By-Sea handler.

Williams is also eyeing the valuable Cazoo Handicap Hurdle at Lingfield’s Winter Million meeting on Friday week for Warwick winner Lord Snootie.

The six-year-old benefited from a step up to three-and-a-quarter miles to win by four and a half lengths on New Year’s Eve.

Cap Du Nord has a Doncaster date
Cap Du Nord has a Doncaster date (Alan Crowhurst/PA)

“Lord Snootie might go to Lingfield. There is a also big open race at Sandown the week after. He might need a bit of luck in getting in, but he might go for one of them,” added the trainer.

“It was a nice win at Warwick. It makes things a bit easier when you run in handicaps. He previously ran in a couple of Chepstow maidens which looked very strong.

“Ideally, the two-mile seven (furlong) race at Lingfield is where he will go, but that £100,000 handicap at Sandown a week after could be on the agenda. We’ll have a look.”

Editeur Du Gite shocks Desert Orchid rivals

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There was a shock in the Ladbrokes Desert Orchid Chase as Gary Moore’s Editeur Du Gite made every yard in the hands of Niall Houlihan to record a scintillating victory at Kempton.

The race was billed as a clash between Arkle and Tingle Creek hero Edwardstone and 2020 champion Nube Negra and the main protagonists were content to sit in rear as Editeur Du Gite bowled along in front during the early exchanges.

However, the complexion of the race changed at the fifth fence when Edwardstone made a bad blunder at the open ditch and parted company with big-race pilot Tom Cannon.

Harry Skelton crept his way into contention aboard Nube Negra rounding the home bend, but was soon sending out the distress signals on the 4-1 second favourite and had to settle for the silver medal as Houlihan kept the revs up aboard Editeur Du Gite and jumped his rivals into submission up the home straight.

A return to aggressive tactics paid off for the 28-1 scorer and the victory comes nine years after Sire De Grugy lit up Kempton in the colours of winning part-owners the Preston Family. The eight-year-old has now been introduced at 33-1 by both Paddy Power and Betfair to follow in the footsteps of the Moore-trained Sire De Grugy, winner of the 2014 Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.

“I said to Niall ‘just ride him to be third’ as I had no other expectations,” said the winning trainer.

“He is not at his best right-handed and the ground is probably a bit softer than he would have liked it so they tell me. He has just proved everything wrong today.

“They are a great bunch of owners. The saddest thing is that Trevor (Jacobs, part owner) has been in hospital for six months now but he is gradually getting better. He is a great man, it is just a shame that he is not here. What this horse has done for all of them (is great). They are the luckiest bunch of owners, they had Sire De Grugy then this horse.

“He is no Sire De Grugy but he isn’t far behind him. It is great and good for the yard as they have worked hard over Christmas – it is well deserved.”

On future plans, Moore added: “There (Cheltenham) and Aintree (are where his best performances have been) and he will now have to go for the Game Spirit.

“He will have to have a Champion Chase entry as handicaps are definitely out of the question. His work at home has been very good, you could gallop him with any two-mile hurdler and he will gallop with them, if not better. It is a massive surprise but you need to have surprises like this.

Jockey Niall Houlihan celebrates winning the Ladbrokes Desert Orchid Chase with horse Editeur Du Gite during day two of the Ladbrokes Christmas Festival at Kempton
Jockey Niall Houlihan celebrates winning the Ladbrokes Desert Orchid Chase with horse Editeur Du Gite during day two of the Ladbrokes Christmas Festival at Kempton (Nigel French/PA)

“The only thing is Josh (Moore) isn’t riding – that is the only thing missing – but fair play to Niall he has done well on the horse and it is great for him. They get on well together every time he has ridden him.”

Runner-up Nube Negra will now be freshened up for another tilt at the Champion Chase in March, with Dan Skelton believing the tacky nature of the Sunbury track took its toll on his good-ground loving eight-year-old.

He said: “The ground was tacky today but fair play to the winner, he’s set really hard fractions in really tacky ground and made it really hard work for everybody.

“Our horse has had to give him 6lb, but on the ground it’s just made it very hard for us. Take nothing away from the winner though, we’ll freshen him up now and go for the Champion Chase and fingers crossed we get some really nice ground.”

Newbury’s Game Spirit Chase is also on the cards for Edwardstone, with Alan King reporting both horse and rider to be fine following their early exit.

“They’re both fine,” said the Barbury Castle handler. “I’d have to watch it again, normally him and Tom do everything right, normally they sort it between them and today they didn’t. Nobody has died, he’s fine and he enjoyed himself when loose afterwards.

“I’ve been at it long enough to know that as long as they’re OK, there’s always another day. We’re gutted of course but I’ve been in worse places. I’d imagine we’ll stick to the original plan and look at the Game Spirit at Newbury. It’s a shame but it happens – for once they didn’t quite get it right today.”

Boothill swoops late to grab Wayward Lad honours

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Harry Fry’s Boothill struck late to down Aucunrisque and record his third victory of the season over fences in a competitive running of the Ladbrokes Wayward Lad Novices’ Chase at Kempton.

Only four went to post for the Grade Two contest, but the lack of numbers did not effect the quality on show and Aucunrisque shaded affairs at the head of the closely-bunched quartet in the early stages.

Harry Skelton was keen to match strides with Chris Gordon’s six-year-old aboard 13-8 favourite Lac De Constance, but the former champion jockey was unseated following a blunder at the final ditch as the tempo began to increase.

Tom Cannon kept his foot down on Aucunrisque following the departure of Lac De Constance and had opened up a three-length lead over Boothill as the field jumped three out.

But Boothill responded gamely to rider Jonathan Burke’s urgings soon after and edged his way to the front with a fine leap at the last – landing full of running and galloping on to the line to shade the long-time leader by a length.

It was the perfect way for the seven-year-old to get back to winning ways following a respectable effort behind Jonbon in the Henry VIII Novices’ Chase earlier this month and both Betfair and Coral have cut the son of Presenting to 25-1 for a potential rematch with Nicky Henderson’s Arkle favourite at the Cheltenham Festival.

Boothill ridden by jockey J J Burke on their way to winning the Ladbrokes Wayward Lad Novices’ Chase during day two of the Ladbrokes Christmas Festival at Kempton Racecourse
Boothill ridden by jockey J J Burke on their way to winning the Ladbrokes Wayward Lad Novices’ Chase during day two of the Ladbrokes Christmas Festival at Kempton Racecourse (Nigel French/PA)

The winning rider was full of praise for his mount and said: “We probably didn’t go as quick as I thought we would, but I’d say my horse is growing in confidence with every run. He’s showing battling qualities now that he probably didn’t show in the past, so every time he runs he’s improving.

“We’ve bumped into Jonbon before and I’m sure we’ll take him on again, but he’s getting better with every run and his jumping is his thing – he’s jumping so well in his races. Trying to settle him is not easy when he’s jumping as well as that, but he’s battling better than he ever has.

“Because he was keen I took the decision to sit at the back of the four so I could fill him up and if I couldn’t do that I wouldn’t be in contention. Moving to the last, he was going well so it was great. We’ll be keen to take on Jonbon again, we probably won’t beat him but we’re up for the fight.”

Gordon was also proud of the efforts of the runner-up and now has the Grand Annual at Cheltenham in his sights.

He said: “He has run an absolute blinder. It is one of those things – if he was tailed off and came and finished second I would have been really happy.

“When we came around the bend I thought ‘we have got this’ and that is what is painful as a trainer. At the end of the day, when you sit down you’d say he has run a blinder. The owner just mentioned about the Arkle but the Grand Annual might be fantastic for him. I think maybe if they feel they would like to go to Cheltenham, we could put an entry in both of those.

“Hopefully the handicapper is sensible. If they are not sensible it puts you off running horses like this in it (Grand Annual). He scared me with his jumping early on as he is small but he has really got his jumping together, so maybe we can look at a race like that (Grand Annual).”

Nicholls sets sights on Gold Cup next with Bravemansgame

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Paul Nicholls believes he has another genuine Gold Cup contender on his hands following Bravemansgame’s crowning moment in the Ladbrokes King George VI Chase at Kempton.

Having been lukewarm on the idea of a Cheltenham challenge when his new stable star won the Charlie Hall Chase earlier in the season, the manner of his success when providing the champion trainer with a 13th win in the Christmas showpiece has forced a rethink.

He had to overcome more than three miles, eight rivals and 18 fences, too, as L’Homme Presse, backed into favouritism, repeatedly jumped out to his left, not really doing Bravemansgame any favours.

Harry Cobden was keen to give his mount space on the outside and it was not until they turned into the straight that he began to move up alongside L’Homme Presse, with two of last season’s leading novices fighting out the finish.

Bravemansgame began to assert running to the final fence and while both jumped it well, L’Homme Presse landed steep, unshipping Charlie Deutsch, allowing him the 11-4 winner come home 14 lengths clear of Royale Pagaille, a stablemate of L’Homme Presse.

“It was a hell of a race. They went a good gallop and old Frodon gave them a good lead. He stayed on strong then and showed his strengths. He is just a maturing horse and we have trained him for today,” said Nicholls.

“We will go straight to Cheltenham now and we won’t run him before the Gold Cup. Better ground helps him travel better than he did today, but he dug deep and stayed on. The other horse was a little unfortunate to lose his pilot, but he was beaten by then.

“We were very confident. Some of those bad runs in the spring you couldn’t judge him on as ours weren’t right. When he is right he is a very good horse. We knew it was him at his best today.”

Nicholls – whose Kempton roll of honour includes five memorable triumphs with dual Gold Cup hero Kauto Star – feels the stamina Bravemansgame showed close home will stand him in good stead come March, if the ground is suitable.

Bookmaker reaction regarding the Gold Cup was positive, with Betfair and Paddy Power making him 7-1 from 20-1 while Coral halved his price to 10-1.

“I loved the way he stayed on as all the way down the back he didn’t have a great passage as L’Homme Presse kept jumping across him and I would have liked to have seen it go a bit more fluent, but he came hard on the bridle and stayed on well,” Nicholls said.

“It is just fantastic. You set out to try and win these races and it is just brilliant, but you have got to have the right horse. He is a good horse but he has not been the easiest to train. We learned a few lessons about him last season but we have got him right now.

“He needs to be fresh. We have nothing to lose running him at Cheltenham, but he won’t run before. Nice ground will suit him well. It was great to see him stay on strong today.

“I was confident as I thought the track would suit him well.”

A meeting with L’Homme Presse is surely on the cards in the future and while Nicholls feels Cheltenham may suit that rival more, his horse was on top when he departed at the last.

Charlie Deutsch gets unseated from L'Homme Presse
Charlie Deutsch gets unseated from L’Homme Presse (John Walton/PA)

“L’Homme Presse was obviously going to be a danger and he is obviously going to be a very good horse and he won’t be far away in the Gold Cup where going left-handed will probably suit him better. But we got on top of him when he departed at the last and Bravemansgame galloped on to win so it is good form,” said Nicholls.

“I’m lucky enough to have the horses good enough to do it and the capability of a team that is good enough to get them right on the day.

“Horses like this find you rather than the other way. We have been lucky and we have some other lovely young horses at home. It is fantastic and I feel very lucky.

“You never dream of days like this and once you have a taste of it you never want it to go away. Last season he would never be able to do that (go three times up the hill on the gallops) now he cruises up it. Horses like that just reach that maturity. When he was five when he went to Cheltenham he was nowhere near the best physically but he is getting there.”

Bravemansgame makes it another King George to remember for Paul Nicholls

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Paul Nicholls was proved spot-on in his assertion that Bravemansgame is a tailor-made for the Ladbrokes King George VI Chase as he provided him with a record 13th victory in the Boxing Day showpiece.

The seven-year-old was a brilliant winner of the Kauto Star Novices’ Chase on this day 12 months ago, since when a return to Kempton for the big one has been top of his agenda.

Bravemansgame had been at the top of ante-post lists for the King George for some time – but despite his comeback victory in the Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby, he was not favourite come the off, with that honour going to Venetia Williams’ L’Homme Presse (9-4), who was out to supplement a fine weight-carrying victory in Newcastle’s Rehearsal Chase last month.

Bravemansgame’s stablemate Frodon, the King George hero of 2020, gave his usual bold sight in front for much of the three-mile journey, but began to give way turning for home and at the top of the home straight it became clear it was going to develop into a straight shootout between the big two.

L’Homme Presse held a narrow advantage approaching the third fence from the finish, but Bravemansgame (11-4) and Harry Cobden mastered him between the last two two and was in command when L’Homme Presse unseated Charlie Deutsch at the final obstacle.

In the end it was L’Homme Presse’s stablemate Royale Pagaille who finished best of the rest, some 14 lengths adrift of the brilliant winner. Frodon was third, another four and quarter lengths back.

Cobden said: “It means a lot. The last one I won was in 2018 (Clan Des Obeaux) and I definitely didn’t appreciate it as much as I should have done. It sounds a bit silly, but now I’m 23 I appreciate these big days as they don’t come around that often.

“He was a bit behind the bridle and L’Homme Presse kept jumping across us which wasn’t ideal and we were getting carried out. I didn’t want to get him amongst it. Although we went the furthest route and we were getting a bit of hassle off the other one sometimes it is best to keep it simple.

“I knew he was going to be the one to beat turning in so I thought we would get a lead off him as long as possible. I then tried to pin him down the inside a bit so he couldn’t take us right across the track.

“He is a fantastic horse and it is a great day. I was just hoping we would get over the last. He got over it and stayed on very well. Yeah (will get the Gold Cup trip), it looks like he wants it.”

Paul Nicholls (left), Harry Cobden (centre left) and owner Bryan Drew (second right)
Paul Nicholls (left), Harry Cobden (centre left) and owner Bryan Drew (second right) (John Walton/PA)

Nicholls confirmed Bravemansgame would now head straight to the Gold Cup.

He said: “It was a hell of a race. They went a good gallop and old Frodon gave them a good lead. He stayed on strong then and showed his strengths. He is just a maturing horse and we have trained him for today.

“We will go straight to Cheltenham now and we won’t run him before the Gold Cup. On better ground he travels better than he did today, but he dug deep and stayed on. The other horse was a little unfortunate to lose his pilot, but he was beaten by then.

“I’m thrilled. Who knows (what would have happened if L’Homme Presse had not come to grief at the last), but he wasn’t stopping. He just jumped to the front and he would have been hard to go by. You can never be certain, but it looked that way to me watching. I’m lucky enough to have the horses good enough to do it and the capability of a team that is good enough to get them right on the day.”

Charlie Deutsch is unseated from L'Homme Press at the final fence
Charlie Deutsch is unseated from L’Homme Press at the final fence (John Walton/PA)

Williams said of Royale Pagaille and L’Homme Presse: “It’s a shame as it looked as though they were going to be second and third, but they’ve both run very well – I’m proud of both of them today. Paul’s horse has won today but there’ll be more races in which they meet and hopefully we’ll come out on top when they do.”

Bryony Frost said of Frodon: “He never lets me down and if we’re going to go down, we go down fighting. He’s unbelievable, his stamina is much better after his wind op which really helped him.

“The way he’s jumped there is fantastic and he’s really served it up to them and he loses nothing in defeat. He’s absolutely phenomenal, we were able to get out in front and do what we do best and the younger legs have just gone by him. But he’s awesome and I can’t fault him.”

Christmas Hurdle proves cruise control for Constitution Hill

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Constitution Hill once again made winning a top-level race look easy as he breezed to a 17-length success in the Ladbrokes Christmas Hurdle at Kempton.

National Hunt racing’s new star had beaten stablemate Epatante – herself a previous dual Christmas Hurdle winner – by 12 lengths at Newcastle in the Fighting Fifth and the two met again, much to Nicky Henderson’s chagrin.

Briefly the mare looked to be in with a chance on this occasion, as Nico de Boinville just had to slightly niggle on the 1-7 favourite to go forward as they turned into the straight.

But just as at Newcastle, once Constitution Hill was asked a question he responded in kind, and gradually drew further and further clear.

A spring-heeled leap at the last sealed matters and he remains Paddy Power and Betfair’s 4-11 favourite for the Champion Hurdle in March, with Coral unchanged at 2-7.

Henderson said “That was only his fifth race and again it was everything you’d hoped for.

“You just have to pray it all goes right, it’s not that easy, it’s not just a matter of going out there and coming back, you’ve got to jump hurdles and be in good shape – which he is – but so was Epatante, I haven’t seen her look better.

“Aidan (Coleman) said she’s probably run better than when she won this on the bridle last year, but he said he was only chasing shadows so it shows you what he is achieving – it’s frightening really.”

Regarding the future he said: “They’ve taken away my favourite race, the Contenders at Sandown, which was only worth two and six but was the perfect Champion Hurdle trial. I can’t think we really want to go to Haydock, Nico said Ireland (Irish Champion Hurdle) but let’s just have a look and see. It’s either that or nothing I would say.

“The one good thing this year is that we have four weeks between Cheltenham and Aintree so we could step him up to two and a half at Aintree.

“I know everybody wants to see him, but where can you go? I don’t think Wincanton is the right place for him and Haydock certainly isn’t in my opinion – but he doesn’t need to and there’s no point doing something you don’t need to do.

“He can go there (Cheltenham) fresh no problem, but we’ll get today over with and it’s the one we needed in the bag. Nico said turning in that he was actually dossing and then he pressed the button and off he went. He was having a nice time – he’s quick and fast and accurate and at the moment there’s no chinks in that armour because he’s got such a great mind.

“He was on his toes today actually which was more than I’ve seen before, but he’s so relaxed at home and Shauna who rides him every day has done a brilliant job with him. The horse is just cool and that’s the only word you can call him – he’s cool and talented!

“You’d have to think about Ireland, but it’s nothing to do with ducking and diving – which is becoming a stupid phrase which I wish they’d ban! My gut feeling was always that we’d go straight there, I don’t think we’d achieve anything by going to Haydock. If the Contenders was still here I’d go there, but Cheltenham and Aintree is what it’s all about now. It’s a very truncated season with four runs, but that’s what its come down to unless we travel and Punchestown is too close to Aintree to go there.”

Nico de Boinville celebrates on Constitution Hill
Nico de Boinville celebrates on Constitution Hill (John Walton/PA)

“Sensational” was how De Boinville described the winner.

“Horses like him don’t come around very often – he is just sensational,” he said. “He can do it any way and I don’t think you can beat him how he is at moment.”

Coleman said of Epatante: “She is running her races. She ran great, travelled and jumped but just couldn’t go with the winner. That is four or five goes in a row he has done that so credit where credit is due. His performances are freakish but my mare ran really well.

“I suppose the Mares’ Hurdle has always been talked about. She is a fantastic mare in her own right and has run another great race. Her last 13 races have all been in Grade Ones and she has been a fantastic mare. What she does now I’m not sure, but hopefully we are not done yet.

“I think her performances are similar to last season and she won three Grade Ones last season. I don’t think she has always got the credit she deserves. She has been around a long time and won a lot of Grade Ones. She has been a very good mare, unfortunately she has now just got him to contend with.”

Thyme Hill gains revenge on McFabulous for impressive Kauto Star success

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Thyme Hill reversed Newbury form with McFabulous in no uncertain terms when winning the Ladbrokes Kauto Star Novices’ Chase at Kempton.

Paul Nicholls’ McFabulous had Thyme Hill well behind when they met in a Grade Two last time out at Newbury, with the pair among a five-runner field upped to Grade One company.

Not surprisingly McFabulous was sent off favourite and Harry Cobden attempted to dictate matters from the front, a task made easier when Dan Skelton’s Galia Des Liteaux made a couple of early blunders meaning she ended up settling in behind.

Unfortunately her early errors took a toll and she was pulled up on the second circuit, while Gelino Bello was faller.

All the time Tom O’Brien was creeping closer on Philip Hobbs’ Thyme Hill and there was never going to be any question about his stamina given how well he stayed over hurdles.

As McFabulous tired it was Thyme Hill (11-2) who soared over the last, with the first-time cheekpieces clearly working as he came home 15 lengths clear.

O’Brien said: “It was disappointing at Newbury, but the ground there was the faster side of good and I was ballooning fences and you can’t give any ground away doing that. We put the cheekpieces on and the ground brought stamina into it today plus he he wasn’t ballooning them as much as the last day.

Tom O’Brien celebrates on Thyme Hill
Tom O’Brien celebrates on Thyme Hill (John Walton/PA)

“I was disappointed after Newbury, but when I schooled him with cheekpieces on I thought ‘this is what I want to feel’. He is a dual Grade One winner over hurdles and he is now a Grade One-winning chaser and nearly a Grade One bumper winner. He has been a very good horse and I’m delighted I’ve got to ride him.”

Sarah Hobbs, wife of the winning trainer, said: “I’m absolutely delighted. He jumped so well and I think the cheekpieces helped but he has been working a lot better this week and he has suddenly come into himself. He does need a fast pace. If they go too slow he can’t quicken, but if it is fast to start with he can.

“He can’t run very often and needs to be fresh. He is not very big but he does try and the cheekpieces just make him concentrate. He is a lovely little horse, but he has his own mind. I was confident because Philip was confident. He had said at home that his work was so much better. The girl that rides him every day said that he was a different horse.

“He would have to have at least a month off. There are not too many races he can run in before Cheltenham. It would be better if he went to Cheltenham then Aintree as he has won at Aintree before. He is a good horse.”

Nicholls said of his runners: “McFabulous just doesn’t quite get three miles on that ground. I think they all had a problem with the sun there down the back from what they were all saying, Harry (Cobden) said he wasn’t really confident jumping and then he’s just run out of petrol.

“The other horse outstayed him on that ground and it’s just one of those things, we know he needs good ground so we’ll leave him until the spring and run him on nice ground. We’ll freshen him up now and wait for the good ground in the spring.

“Gelino Bello was travelling really well, they’re both OK and Bryony (Frost) came in and said similar. We won’t be blaming anything but it’s one of those things, they’re both good and he’s a nice horse and he’ll come good.”