ASCOT SATURDAY
TRAINER Rebecca Curtis, pleased with Shantou Flyer, had greater cause for celebration earlier on when Bigbadjohn, 8/1, ran on with tremendous courage to catch the gallant Flintham in the Grade 2 Sodexo Reynoldstown Novices’ Chase.
The runner-up left a couple of pulled-up efforts over fences behind and failed narrowly to lead all the way, despite jumping left.
He finally fought off eventual third Fletchers Flyer and looked sure to prevail when jumping the last two lengths in front.
However, Bigbadjohn was going right through with his effort on the outside and got up by a short head with Jonathan Moore riding a very powerful finish.
The first two will both stay beyond three miles and a bigger worry may concern how long it takes them to get over their efforts here.
“Jonathan said Bigbadjohn hated the ground (no worse than good to soft) and changed his legs the whole way round. He’s also probably better going left-handed so he’s done it the hard way, really,” Curtis said.
“He’s in the four-miler and the RSA Chase at Cheltenham; we’ll go away and have a think about it.”
It looks as if Mark Bradstock will have a similar choice to make regarding Flintham.
Moore was seen to great advantage here and his job with Curtis seems to be back on track after personal issues prompted a return to Ireland following a very promising start to the campaign. This this is a powerful trainer-jockey arrangement and Curtis is to be commended for her patience and loyalty. However he did an 11-day whip-ban for the ride.
Venetia Williams needed the ground to ease for Tenor Nivernais earlier in the season but the rain held off and he missed two big handicap chases.
They were over shorter distances but he showed he stays three miles well by coming home 30 lengths to the good in the Listed Keltbray Swinley Chase. Clear after the fourth, he could even afford a couple of minor errors before pulling miles clear of Go Conquer for Liam Treadwell.
“Liam will put that down as one of his most exhilarating rides,” the trainer smiled. “Tenor Nivernais has an entry in the National but he couldn’t go tearing off like that.”
The Ultima Handicap on the first day at Cheltenham looks the obvious target but the handicapper will make things very difficult now.
DUG DEEP
Former Paul Nicholls assistant Harry Fry has shown considerable skill in placing his horses and 7/1 chance Air Force One returned to handicap company to land the valuable Les Ambassadeurs Casino Hurdle by a length and a half from Nicky Henderson’s Divine Spear with 4/1 favourite Templeross third.
The winner was produced with perfect timing by Noel Fehily and there will surely a race for him at the festival next month. If too high for the Martin Pipe, the Coral Cup is another option.
Henderson had better luck in the opening Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle when 5/2 shot Beyond Conceit just held off Nicholls’ 7/4 favourite Topofthegame and De Dollar Man. The trainer is inclined to drop the winner back in trip for the Supreme Novices’.
Not many J.P. McManus-owned handicap hurdlers go in at 20/1 but that was the way of it when Jonjo O’Neill’s Forthefunofit got home under Aidan Coleman in the near three-miler.