Crawford success

STUART Crawford’s week began well when he sent the grey Yes Tom to Ayr for a two and a half mile handicap chase on Tuesday and he ran out an easy winner for A.P. McCoy. He made most of the running to come home 12 lengths clear.

Most of McCoy’s runners were well-backed this week and Crawford’s Cornerman was sent of favourite for the bumper but could only finish fifth behind the Donal McCain trained Duke Arcadio. Gordon Elliott’s newcomer Tajseer stayed on well to take second.

Easy for Holywell

GOLD Cup contender Holywell made the trip to Kelso worthwhile when A.P. McCoy gave him a positive ride from the front to make most of the running and win the Ivan Straker Memorial Chase over three miles and two furlongs.

Now a general 10/1 shot for the Gold Cup, McCoy will have to choose between him and Carlingford Lough for the Cheltenham championship.

The blinkered eight-year-old had finished third at Carlisle and unseated at Aintree in two runs this season and he jumped accurately to warrant his 1/4 favourite starting price. He was entilted to win as he was rated over 20lb higher than his rivals.

McCoy said: “He didn’t get the first fence quite right but he was fine after that. I don’t know why but he’s a better horse at this time of year and he felt so much better when I went down to school him last week. I would say he’ll have a decent chance in the Gold Cup but whether I ride him will depend on Mr [JP] McManus as he’s got Carlingford Lough in the race.”

Also on Thursday, the Nicky Richards’ trained Glingerburn, continued his rise up the ranks when accounting for Cheltenham Festival winner Hawk High in the Timeform Morebattle Hurdle over two miles and two furlongs.

The likes of Simonsig and Peddlers Cross have won the race in the last four years and Glingerburn looks another name to note after taking his unbeaten record over hurdles to three.

Successful in two novice contests at Doncaster, the Nicky Richards-trained seven-year-old son of King’s Theatre was always travelling powerfully before coming home by one and three-quarter lengths from the 146 rated Hawk High.

Richards said: “He’s some traveller and he’s a decent horse. He’s in the Supreme [Novices’ Hurdle] but there’s the good novice race here at the beginning of next month and that would fit in nicely. After that there’s Aintree and the Scottish Champion Hurdle at Ayr.”