MR Antolini, a 20/1 shot having only his third outing since joining Nigel Twiston-Davies from Garrett Power, landed the valuable Grade 3 Matchbook Imperial Cup by a neck at Sandown last Saturday.

However, in a desperate tussle to the line, he bumped runner-up Call Me Lord close home and had to survive a protracted stewards’ inquiry.

Castafiore took them along, followed by Chti Balko, but the field closed up in the straight with Mr Antolini and Jamie Bargary going particularly well.

The winner led two out and went for home with Call Me Lord making ground on the inner under his welter burden of 11st 12lb.

Mr Antolini always seemed to be going slightly the better but Bargary had his whip in his left hand and Daryl Jacob was short of room on the rails as the pair came together.

Mr Antolini gave him a bump but Bargary, having seemed briefly to relax in the closing stages, pushed him out again and the winning distance of a neck, as opposed to a head or short-head, probably worked in his favour.

The evidence was heard by the television audience and Jacob undoubtedly provided the more forthright views but Mr Antolini was always going just that bit better and the officials, faithful to the letter of the law – the winner won on merit and the bump was not quite serious enough to affect the result – got the decision right.

Nicky Henderson saddled both second and third. Call Me Lord, beaten into third by Champion Hurdle contender Elgin at Wincanton, was trying to concede Mr Antolini 25lb, while the in-form novice Whatswrongwithyou (100/30 favourite) ran a fine race in third, even if nine lengths adrift. Then came Huntsman Son and Man Of Plenty.

Twiston-Davies may be thought of as a trainer of chasers but he wins his share of big hurdle races, Splash Of Ginge in last year’s Betfair being a good example.

FORM

Mr Antolini, winner of a maiden hurdle at Gowran Park under Ruby Walsh 18 months ago but unsuccessful afterwards until scoring on his debut for Twiston-Davies at Leicester, had not been ‘covered over’ and it was up to form students to assess his perfectly respectable second at Huntingdon, when ridden by an inexperienced amateur, last time. Bargary, formerly in the amateur ranks himself, can claim 3lb as a conditional and Mr Antolini carried only 10st 1lb last week.

The trainer was quick to thank the inclement weather, snow the previous week having ruled out Newbury, where he thought Mr Antolini had a straightforward task in a veterans’ race.

A penalty incurred there would almost certainly have made the difference at Sandown.

“I was never worried about the inquiry. They don’t disqualify you if you win a by a neck, do they?” he quipped.

Matchbook’s £100,000 bonus for winning the Imperial Cup and any race at Cheltenham stayed in the proverbial satchel because Mr Antolini, rated 130 at the time, was never going to make any of the handicaps.

PETE’S FEAT

The biggest cheer on the day came when veteran 14-year-old Pete The Feat and Johnny Burke took advantage of some sloopy jumping from his rivals and held on for an emotional victory for his trainer Charlie Longsdon in the three-mile handicap chase.

People wonder when Mick Easterby will call it a day but, as long as the canny Yorkshireman can land big southern prizes, he has no need to ponder retirement.

He produced a vintage effort on this valuable Sandown card, winning the Grade 3 EBF Matchbook VIP “National Hunt” Novices’ Handicap Hurdle with 12/1 shot Sam’s Gunner, who fairly sprinted up the hill to beat Dentley De Mee by seven lengths and land the £42,000 first prize.

Sam’s Gunner was ridden by Will Kennedy for the first time, having finished first and second at bargain-basement Catterick before another second at Kelso last time.

Southern racegoers will not quite accept form at venues like these and the winner paid nearly half as much again on the Tote. He actually won very easily.

The Listed EBF Stallions/TBA Mares’ Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race went to Queenohearts who got the better of Queens Cave. She is another good mare for Stuart Edmunds and Ciaran Gethings who teamed up with Maria’s Benefit at Cheltenham.

Irish winners

SATURDAY’s Ayr meeting provided two Irish-trained winners with Richard Curran and Maxine O’Sullivan teaming up for the second time in a week with The Jam Man (4/6) who cruised home in a handicap hurdle. They made it three wins in a week at Sedgefield on Monday.

JJ Slevin and trainer Stuart Crawford combined with Gleno (7/4) to take the concluding bumper. Elusive Theatre had earlier finished second in the Caledonia Best Handicap Hurdle for the same combination.