Sandown Saturday

Virgin Bet Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase (Grade 1)

THE British action last weekend paled in comparison to the feast at Leopardstown, but the Grade 1 Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase produced the finish of the weekend, as Handstands (Ben Pauling/Ben Jones) held the determined challenge of old rival Jango Baie (Nicky Henderson/Nico de Boinville) by a short-head margin.

Handstands was sent off at 10/3, despite victories in Grade 2 events at Sandown (Esher Novices’ Chase) and Ffos Las (Towton Novices’ Chase), and his stamina for further just carried the day, after the pair had been locked in combat all the way up the Sandown hill.

Handstands made virtually all the running, but the runner-up looked to be travelling slightly better, as de Boinville brought him to challenge at the penultimate fence.

He answered his rider’s calls from that point, but Handstands proved equally game, with the pair separated by inches from the final fence to the line.

Kalif Du Berlais, impressive on his previous start at Cheltenham, simply failed to stay two and a half miles on testing ground, fading to finish last of four.

It was a positive end for a trying week for Pauling, who was forced to rule Kauto Star winner The Jukebox Man out for the season earlier in the week.

A proper horse

Pauling said: “He is a proper horse and we’ve always known it; it is just unfortunate when we dipped our toe in at Grade 1 level at Cheltenham last year, he was flat as a pancake.

“He’s come out this season and fell at Wincanton on ground that was far too quick and has since not put a foot wrong. After he won at Ffos Las, I expected him to be exhausted, but he came out of that race fresher and better than all season.

“We beat Jango Baie in the Sidney Banks last season, and he has run a brilliant race in defeat. To make a race, you need two horses, and you have to commend Nicky’s horse for running such a race.

“We don’t think our lad does much in front, so I wasn’t too worried when Nico came alongside, but it was a proper battle. It was a ding-dong, but I was always confident Ben would hold on.

“We’ve had a rubbish week with Jukebox, but we’re just very fortunate to have two horses of the same calibre as novices – and hopefully Jukebox will be back as good as new next season.”

Handstands is not entered at Cheltenham and, while supplementing is an option now The Jukebox Man is sidelined, it seems more likely that the winner will return to three miles for the Mildmay Novices’ Chase at Aintree in April.

Road relishes stamina test

Another to make all on the day was Red Dirt Road (Jonjo & AJ O’Neill/Jonjo Jr), who relished the emphasis on stamina as he followed up a win at Aintree on Boxing Day trying three miles for the first time in the Virgin Bet Heroes Handicap Hurdle. A son of Ascot Gold Cup winner Fame And Glory, he is related to a number of thorough stayers and found more progress for the step up in trip, always travelling well on the testing ground and beating the always-prominent Henri The Second (Paul Nicholls/Harry Cobden) by eight lengths, with Goshen (Gary and Josh Moore/Niall Houlihan) showing some more spark than previously this season in third, a further three-parts of a length away.

The Charles Byrnes-trained Shoot First held every chance early in the straight, but was beaten when taking a very tired fall at the final hurdle.

Musselburgh Saturday

A PROGRESSIVE sort, The Kalooki Kid (Nicky Richards/Danny McMenamin) continued his progress with victory in the Bet365 Scottish Champion Chase, beating Saint Segal (Jane Williams/David Noonan) by two and three-quarter lengths to justify 2/1 favouritism.

The seven-year-old always travelled well and kicked on with the runner-up at the top of the straight, shaking off that rival with a fine leap at the penultimate fence before holding that rival’s rally from the last. He has looks to match his ability and has clearly not finished improving yet, with his trainer clearly holding high hopes for the spring and beyond.

“He’s doing well for a young horse,” said a delighted Nicky Richards. “I don’t know what the handicapper will do, but I think he’s got Aintree written all over him. There’s a two-and-a-half-mile handicap that might suit him and, looking towards next year, something like the Paddy Power at Cheltenham might suit.”

St Pancras has an engine

The Listed Scottish Triumph Hurdle threw up a surprise result according to the betting, as 33/1 shot St Pancras (Toby Lawes/Kevin Brogan) scored on his second start over hurdles, but there was no fluke about the result, as the winner did well to overcome an awkward start (shied as tapes went up, having endured two false starts) to win with a bit in hand from Solar Drive (Paul Flynn/Gavin Brouder) and Johnny Ringo (Lucinda Russell/Patrick Wadge). The margins were a length and three-quarters and five and a half lengths.

The winner was fairly useful on the flat for Martyn Meade and cost current connections 95,000gns to go hurdling. Out of the Lillie Langtry winner Pilaster, he’s not short of stamina, and was paying a handsome compliment to Lulamba, to whom he finished fifth on his hurdles bow at Ascot. That race is working out well, with Viyanni, third at Ascot, also a winner at Ludlow on Wednesday, while several others have run well in defeat.

“St Pancras only ran a couple of weeks ago,” said Lawes. “And we were anxious to get some more experience into him as quickly as possible, as he’s a lovely horse but just a bit novicey.

“We were wary even though it is a Listed race that I’d be waiting around until the end of February for some nice ground, so I’m glad we put him on the box. He did a lovely bit of work the other day and we’re over the moon as that is our first Listed winner. We didn’t think he’d have the pace of some of them as he wants further, but Kevin was patient and came with one good run.”

Rest of the card

JOHN McConnell maintained his excellent record in Britain at Musselburgh on Saturday, when Intense Approach (James Bowen), off since scoring at Cheltenham in October, followed up in the Scottish Stayers’ Novices’ Hurdle, a contest regarded as a trial for the Albert Bartlett at Cheltenham in March.

The 5/4 market leader made all the running and had five and a half lengths to spare over Gale Mahler (Adrian Keatley/Craig Nichol).

The winner has had jumping issues in the past, but was largely fluent here - but for a mistake at the 10th hurdle. McConnell and owner Caroline Ahearn won this corresponding event with Bardenstown Lad a few years ago and that gelding went on to be third in the Albert Bartlett. They will be hopeful that Intense Approach can repeat that feat, ambitious though it looks on ratings.

McConnell had several other runners at the meeting, hitting the bar with Bodhisattva, who had to settle for second in the Edinburgh National behind Magna Sam (Alastair Ralph/ Brendan Powell), who was reprising his 2023 win in the same event.

Cloonainra also ran a fine race to be second in the Supreme Trial behind Tripoli Flyer (Fergal O’Brien). The winner is available at 40/1 for the Supreme itself, but while he is the type to do better in a well-run race, looks an optimistic contender in that contest.

Huntingdon Thursday

The Cheltenham claims of Challow Hurdle winner The New Lion got a boost at Huntingdon on Thursday, when Califet En Vol (Nicky Henderson/Nico de Boinville) landed the Listed Sidney Banks Novices’ Hurdle, a race won by Shishkin on his way to Supreme success a few years ago. Although looking held early in the straight, de Boinville switched towards the stands side from the final flight and rallied well to run down No Questions Asked and favourite Jax Junior by half a length and a length. The front three pulled well clear in a race that looked to have some strength in depth, although improvement will be required should Califet En Vol lock horns again with The New Lion, who beat him by three lengths at Newbury in November.

The other listed contest saw Gavin Cromwell’s Brides Hill attempt to gain back-to-back wins in the Lady Protectress Mares’ Chase, having beaten the reopposing La Renomee last year. The latter had gained some measure of revenge at Doncaster in December, but on the day, neither could cope with the progressive Telepathique (Lucy Wadham/Tom Cannon), who made all the running and found extra from the final fence to repel the odds-on favourite by three and three-quarter lengths, and that despite jumping to her left throughout. The winner has now won four of her five starts since switched to fences and may do better still.