THE National Hunt season has changed out of all recognition over the past few years, with the top stables sending out plenty of winners long before what used to be known as Cheltenham’s Mackeson meeting.
Paul Nicholls clearly has his string well forward and completed a double at Kempton on Sunday when Black Corton ran out an easy winner of the listed two-mile novices’ hurdle, following Cliffs Of Dover’s success in the opening juvenile event.
The champion has considerable strength in the jockeys’ department and can readily cover Sam Twiston-Davies’ enforced absence through injury. Nick Scholfield made all on Black Corton and sent the 9/4 chance clear between the last two to account for New Agenda by 10 lengths. It was a canny ride because Black Corton stays a good deal further. Scholfield let him find his rhythm and then pressed on to good effect.
Harry Cobden can still claim 3lb and won by even further on Cliffs Of Dover, a Canford Cliffs gelding whose task was made a little easier when Alan King’s 4/5 favourite Lord Huntingdon unseated Wayne Hutchinson two from home. The winner, 11/8, seemed to be travelling much the better anyway and soon went clear to beat Tasty Ginger with any amount in hand. It looked a weak contest but Cliffs of Dover may well take in a prestigious juvenile event at one of the early showcase meetings.
Not to be outdone, Nicky Henderson claimed the Listed Better Odds With Betfair Exchange Hurdle with 11/4 chance Hargam, who had to be forcefully driven by Barry Geraghty to get the better of Court Minstrel and Paul Moloney by a neck. Geraghty, clearly fully fit again, switched from the classy My Tent Or Yours when that one was pulled out because of the ground and Henderson was full of praise for his effort.
Garde La Victorie’s Welsh victory
AT Ffos Las on Saturday Richard Johnson carried all before him, the highlight of his short-priced treble being Philip Hobbs’ Garde La Victoire in the Walters Group Welsh Champion Hurdle.
Grandly titled for a limited handicap, but worth over £18,000 to the winner, the featured race saw Johnson tracking early leader Hassle before kicking on after the fifth.
Garde La Victoire could afford a mistake two out before holding Dan Skelton’s Welsh Shadow by nearly two lengths.
HURDLES
“We thought we’d give him a run over hurdles after two falls and now he should be ready for something like the Haldon Gold Cup at Exeter,” Johnson said.
Jonathan Moore can also do no wrong for his new boss Rebecca Curtis and won the opener on another warm favourite, Truckers Glory.
Lisa O’Neill rides Stratford double
ALSO on Saturday, talented 7lb claimer Lisa O’Neill rode a double at Stratford, Gordon Elliott’s 9/2 chance Shan Dun Na Ngall winning the selling hurdle (there are far fewer of those these days) before Presenting Julio (85/40 favourite) proved too strong for Wildmoor Boy in the lady riders’ handicap hurdle. The Stratford faithful had clearly latched on to her by then.
“The ground is too soft for him in Ireland so we came here,” said the winning trainer, Newry-based Liam Lennon. “Lisa is a family friend and has ridden point-to-point winners for me so, when I saw she was coming over for Gordon Elliott I snapped her up. We may well come back if the going stays good.”
Lisa O’Neill rides Stratford double
ALSO on Saturday, talented 7lb claimer Lisa O’Neill rode a double at Stratford, Gordon Elliott’s 9/2 chance Shan Dun Na Ngall winning the selling hurdle (there are far fewer of those these days) before Presenting Julio (85/40 favourite) proved too strong for Wildmoor Boy in the lady riders’ handicap hurdle. The Stratford faithful had clearly latched on to her by then.
“The ground is too soft for him in Ireland so we came here,” said the winning trainer, Newry-based Liam Lennon. “Lisa is a family friend and has ridden point-to-point winners for me so, when I saw she was coming over for Gordon Elliott I snapped her up. We may well come back if the going stays good.”