Haydock Saturday

JONBON (Nicky Henderson/Aidan Coleman) has been a name to conjure with in recent months, and he took his record in all codes to five wins from five runs, and gained a second Grade 2 win by landing the Rossington Main Novices’ Hurdle in convincing style, although not after a degree of drama.

Sent off a hot favourite at 2/5, the full-brother to Douvan travelled and jumped well, but was crossed by Donny Boy at the third-last flight, which required Coleman to take a check back. That seemed to unbalance Jonbon, but he quickened after the last to beat Richmond Lake (Donald McCain/Brian Hughes) and Might I (Harry Fry/Sean Bowen) by three lengths and a length and three quarters, albeit drifting left across the latter as he asserted.

This was a workmanlike, rather than an impressive win by Jonbon, and he did look a little ungainly as he lugged left in the closing stages.

The question is whether having to switch course sharply caused him to get unbalanced, or whether he hung independently. He didn’t please everyone, drifting in the betting for the Supreme, and it’s there that any lingering questions will be answered.

Tommy’s Oscar

The Grade 2 The New One Hurdle added another chapter to the story of Tommy’s Oscar (Ann Hamilton/Danny McMenamin) who certainly deserves his place in the Cheltenham showpiece, given the lack of opposition to Honeysuckle.

A winner of just one of his eight points, Tommy’s Oscar has been a revelation since joining Ann Hamilton’s small yard, where she trains horses under permit.

This was his eighth success over timber since joining Ann and husband Ian from Colin Bowe in the autumn of 2020, and his remarkable progress is highlighted in the fact that he started 4/7 favourite.

Tommy’s Oscar gave McMenamin an armchair ride, tracking former winners of this contest Navajo Pass and Global Citizen (Ben Pauling/Kielan Woods), who took each other on, and the winner was able to ease past a tiring Global Citizen between the last two hurdles, before cruising home by five lengths.

He was entitled to win as he did on recent form, and he remains on a BHA rating of 156, which puts him ahead of Epatante of the Brits, and his form this season is more solid than the former champion has shown despite winning a pair of Grade 1 contests.

Peter Marsh Chase

Royal Pagaille (Venetia Williams/Charlie Deutsch) entered the Gold Cup picture last year after posting a wide-margin win in the Peter Marsh, and while he was forced to work much harder this time, he completed a remarkable double off a 7lb higher mark.

The eight-year-old found only A Plus Tard too strong in the Betfair Chase here on his return, and he looked at least as good as ever in getting the better of a protracted duel with Sam Brown (Anthony Honeyball/Aidan Coleman) to win all out by half a length.

The 5/2 favourite was clearly expected to go well, but he was given a superb ride by Deutsch, who appeals to me as the best steeplechase jockey in Britain, particularly when granted a trip. He rides not just with strength and technique, but with an innate understanding of his mounts, and that sets him apart.

Royal Pagaille’s inexperience told in the Gold Cup last year, but he’s older and wiser now, and can’t be ruled out.

No Drama

It has been an excellent season for Donald McCain and Brian Hughes, with the pair combining successfully 75 times this term at the time of writing, and they gained another important success with the victory of Minella Drama in the Patrick Coyne Memorial Altcar Novices’ Chase.

Previously put in his place when fifth to Edwardstone in the Grade 1 Scilly Isles at Sandown in December, he paid that Arkle-bound gelding a big compliment in taking this Grade 2 contest with a degree of comfort.

The 85/40 market leader was always travelling well, and he had nine and a half lengths to spare over Hardy Du Seuil (Jamie Snowden/Gavin Sheehan) at the line.

AT Taunton last Saturday, Yala Enki delighted his many fans by winning a third consecutive Portman Cup over three and a half miles under Bryony Frost, while Lingfield staged its inaugural Winter Million jumps fixture, which saw some high-quality action, notably in the feature Fleur De Lys Chase on Sunday.

That two-and-three-quarter-mile race was marred by a fatal fall for Master Tommytucker, but produced a rousing finish, nonetheless, with three in the air together at the last fence.

Bristol De Mai and Dashel Drasher gave everything, as usual, but 10/1 shot Two For Gold (Kim Bailey/David Bass) rallied most gamely having been headed on the run-in, and was a worthy winner of a race which should cement its place in the racing calendar.

The Weatherby’s Cheltenham Festival Betting Guide Hurdle had only three runners, but produced an exciting finish, with only a length and a quarter separating the trio. Brewin’upastorm (Olly Murphy/Aidan Coleman) made amends for his last-flight fall in the Relkeel Hurdle by collaring a back-to-form Darver Star (Gavin Cromwell/Keith Donoghue) on the run-in.