DAVID Maxwell (pictured) has two horses entered in the St James’s Palace Foxhunters Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, the Rose Loxton-trained Shantou Flyer, on whom the Downpatrick-born, London-based property investor was second in the race last March, and the Paul Nicholls-trained Bob And Co.

The latter, a nine-year-old Dom Alco gelding who ran in his native France up to last August, qualified for the ‘Amateur Gold Cup’ when winning the three-mile, two-furlong hunters’ chase at Fontwell last Sunday.

The bay was an even-money shot in the four-horse field to follow up his runaway success at Bangor earlier in the month and did so by one and a quarter lengths from his 5lb-receiving stable-companion Alcala who had been despatched as the 5/6 favourite.

Also bred in France, the Loxton-trained Virak, who is owned by Nicholls and Clive Hitchings, justified odds of 1/2 in Wednesday’s three-mile hunters’ chase at Musselburgh where, under Natalie Parker, the 11-year-old Bernebeau gelding made virtually all to beat the 12lb-receiving Nine Altars by two and a half lengths.

Virak also won last time out at Wincanton where, on Wednesday, the concluding two-and-a-half-mile hunters’ chase was landed by Maxwell, the reigning gentleman jockeys’ National Hunt champion, on his Philip Hobbs-trained Chef d’Equipe.

Another French-bred gelding, this Presenting eight-year-old, who is a half-brother to the ill-fated Un Beau Matin among others, was running in handicap chases up to early January.

Irish-breds take five of six

A WEEK later than originally scheduled, the South East Hunts Club meeting was held last Saturday at Charing where there were five Irish-bred winners on the six-race card.

Three of the quintet were partnered by Jack Andrews who started off on a pair trained by Co Cork-born David Phelan – Generous Ransom in the Jockey Club & Retraining of Racehorses veteran conditions race and Full Irish in the men’s open. Andrews brought up his treble in the concluding restricted on The Golden Rebel who is trained by Julie Wadland.

The opening maiden was won by the James King-ridden Kenyan Cowboy who is trained by Francesca Nimmo for herself and husband Charlie Poste. The four-year-old newcomer, who carried 10st 7lbs, won by seven lengths from fellow joint-favourite, Howitsdone (12st), who was having his first start in Britain following a point-to-point and track career in Ireland.

Kenyan Cowboy was purchased for €13,000 at Goffs Land Rover Sale last June. He is by Sholokhov out of the Bob’s Return mare Joleen who is dam previously of two three-time track winners, Beneficial Joe (by Beneficial) and Mind’s Eye (by Stowaway), and is a half-sister to Racing Demon (by Old Vic) and to the dam of Abolitionist and Askanna.

Out of luck with Howitsdone and two other rides on the day, Gina Andrews was delighted with brother Jack’s treble and with the result of the conditions race as the winner, Earlshill, was the only runner at the fixture for her trainer husband, Tom Ellis. The Milan gelding gave well-known side-saddle rider Lucy Burton, who works for G&T Racing, her first point-to-point success.

Four of the seven races at the re-scheduled Sinnington Hunt meeting at Duncombe Park on Saturday were won by Irish-bred horses including the Guy Brewer-trained Snow Castle (hunt members), who initiated a double for rider Joe Wright, and Panthers Creek who did likewise for trainer/rider Will Easterby.

Another trainer/rider on the mark was Jack Teal who landed the 12-runner maiden on Daly An Sceil, formerly trained by Willie McCreery, who was making her British debut.