Kempton Saturday

Coral Adonis Juvenile Hurdle

NUSRET (Joseph O’Brien/Daryl Jacob) highlighted the disparity in form between the British and Irish juveniles ahead of Cheltenham with a boost to the claims of Irish-trained juveniles ahead of Cheltenham with victory in the Grade 2 Adonis Hurdle. Well beaten in previous runs by Triumph fancies Lossiemouth and Blood Destiny, he beat the best Britain had to offer on the day, making the Triumph look destined for export again.

The race changed complexion when front-runner Sarsons Risk fell at the last in the back straight, just as the race was taking shape, and several of those following were hampered, including 7/2 chance Nusret. The incident saw Perseus Way in the lead, and Jamie Moore made the best of his way home from the top of the straight.

Nusret wasn’t ideally placed as the pace quickened, but he made ground smoothly to challenge, and he jumped the final flight much better than his main rival to score by one and a quarter lengths from Perseus Way. Rare Middleton (Paul Nicholls/Harry Cobden) was third, beaten a total of 10 and three quarter lengths, while favourite Scriptwriter jumped poorly and failed to give his running.

Joseph O’Brien believes the Munir and Souede-owned Nusret appreciated better ground and seems to be best right-handed. He has Punchestown as a target later in the spring, but could well take his place in the Boodles (Fred Winter) at Cheltenham, for which he has been allotted a very reasonable mark of 131.

OWNER Johnny de la Hey was celebrating his fourth win in the Grade 2 Pendil Novices’ Chase as Solo made all and jumped well to score at 11/4 for the Paul Nicholls/Harry Cobden combination which had been successful in 2021 and 2022 with Tamaroc Du Mathan and Pic D’Orhy. Indeed, this was a remarkable 13th win in the race for Nicholls since 2006.

Solo burst onto the scene with a wide-margin win in the Adonis here three years ago, and, while successful only once between his landmark wins at the meeting, he was helped by a recent operation to help his wind, as well as being handed an easy lead by his rivals, with Datsalrightgino (Jamie Snowden/Gavin Sheehan) staying on best for second, but still two lengths adrift of the well-ridden winner at the line.

Race favourite Boothill (Harry Fry/Johnny Burke) was six lengths further back in third under a penalty.

ON a good day for Paul Nicholls and Harry Cobden, Rubaud was another novice to make all the running for a Grade 2 win, although like Solo before him, he won’t be asked to go to Cheltenham. Much too free when down the field in the Betfair Hurdle on his previous start, 11/4 chance Rubaud seemed to benefit markedly from the fitting of a hood and/or being able to get his own way in front, and he quickly settled into a better rhythm with the aid of some slick jumping. He was challenged by the mare Mullenbeg (Milton Harris/Johnny Burke) approaching the final furlong, but found extra to withhold her challenge by a length and a quarter.

Disappointing

Ukantango was a dozen lengths behind Mullenbeg in third with favourite Hansard disappointing in fifth for no apparent reason.

As a Supreme Trial, this race has had no significance for some time, although Rare Edition had beaten Rubaud by seven lengths here in December, so the result will give that gelding’s connections some encouragement.

Mullenbeg has improved steadily over hurdles and was a very useful bumper winner at Cheltenham last term, so could outrun big odds if lining up for the Dawn Run Mares’ Novice.

OUR Power (Sam Thomas/Sam Twiston-Davies) was delivered perfectly to lift the Coral Trophy Handicap Chase at Kempton on Saturday, proving too strong in the finish for the smooth-travelling Flegmatik (Dan/Harry Skelton) to gain an 11/2 success in the £150,000 premier handicap.

Annsam typically set the fractions, chased by Bobhopeornohope and former King George winner Frodon (Paul Nicholls/Bryony Frost), with Twiston-Davies holding on to Our Power in mid-division behind the sound pace.

The order remained the same until Flegmatic moved up stylishly to challenge at the end of the back straight, and as Annsam weakened after the third-last fence, he appeared the likeliest winner.

Our Power had to be ridden to stay in touch around the home turn, but he began to close gradually in the straight, and emerged as the main danger with two to jump. Responding gamely to his rider’s urgings, he joined Flegmatic at the final fence, and forged ahead to score by a neck, with the pair 11 lengths clear of Frodon in third.

Grand National

The winner is engaged in the Grand National but, at number 63 in the list, trainer Sam Thomas is pessimistic of getting a run, with Cheltenham followed by either Ayr or Sandown being the plan for the eight-year-old now.

“I was a bit worried down the back straight but when I saw him turning in, I was quietly confident,” said the Cardiff handler. “I’d say he would be doubtful to get in at Aintree so it will be Cheltenham for the Ultima, then he will either go for the Scottish National or the bet365 Gold Cup.”

THE Eider Chase at Newcastle was the only race of note on that track’s Saturday card, and once again it went the way of the Christian Williams stable, with Kitty’s Light making light of a series of niggly errors to outstay his rivals in the marathon handicap. Backed into an SP of 7/4, he made his backers sweat after a mistake at the 18th fence, having to be scrubbed along after and needing all of four miles to get on top, but he led after the last and had a length and a half to spare over The Galloping Bear, who shaped well on ground which would have been quick enough for the established mudlark.

The National Spirit Hurdle retains Grade 2 status, and Sunday’s renewal went to Brewin’upastorm for Olly Murphy and Aidan Coleman. The winner is suited by the track and trip of the National Spirit and should arguably have landed a hat-trick of wins in the race, scoring in 2021 and idling away what looked a winning lead having travelled best last year. He’s a useful tool on his day, but falls short of Grade 1 company.