Ascot Friday

BENATAR just held off Finian’s Oscar in a pulsating three-runner Mitie Noel Novices’ Chase at Ascot on Friday.

Bryan Cooper attempted to make all the running on Finian’s Oscar but the five-year-old’s jumping in the first half of the race left a lot to be desired and he ended up conceding the lead to Dolos.

Finian’s Oscar’s jumping did warm up and he hit the front turning into the straight but Benatar (7/4) and Jamie Moore were still going well hit the front just before the last before holding on by the minimum margin.

Winning trainer Gary Moore said: “He has really stuck his neck out and he wanted to win. He is a proper horse. I think he will get three miles. It was tough out there today and he has got the two-five [2m 5f] okay.

“We will have to see the ground at Cheltenham but we will enter him in the JLT and RSA and take it from there.”

SMART HURDLER

On the same card Claimantakinforgan was a comprehensive winner of the Sky Bet Supreme Trial Novices’ Hurdle.

The 6/4 favourite moved ominously into contention in the hands of Nico de Boinville and while the largely unconsidered Dr Des refused to go down without a fight after the final obstacle, the market leader pulled two and a quarter lengths clear at the line.

Henderson said: “We will be looking down the Supreme road.

“He has got some scope. He has got a very good head on him and he is a very good jumper. He has got a good racing brain on him.

“We were looking to get him qualified for the race we won at Haydock with Petethepear (Challenger Stayers Hurdle) but we might have to rethink now.”

Henderson had earlier scored with Divine Spear who, dropping down in trip, ran out an impressive winner of the Stella Artois Limited Novices’ Handicap Chase. The six-year-old used his assured stamina to gallop his rivals into submission and ran out a 10-length winner over Exitas.

Henderson said: “I’d like to think he can creep into the two-and-a-half-mile novice handicap at the Festival but we have got to judge it right.”

The closing race, a listed bumper, featured a host of winners and it was won in good style by Didtheyleaveuoutto.

Trained by Nick Gifford for owner J.P. McManus, the four-year-old son of Presenting gave jockey Barry Geraghty an armchair ride and looks one to follow.