No doubting Thomas
THOMAS DARBY paid back the faith trainer Olly Murphy had invested in the eightyear-old by winning the Ladbrokes Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury yesterday.
Fitted with a tongue tie for the first time, he travelled sweetly under Sean Bowen, before looming up to challenge long-time leader Paisley Park after the penultimate flight.
On The Blind Side, ridden by James Bowen, brother of the winning jockey, kept up an honest gallop to the line, but Thomas Darby had a comfortable two and a quarter lengths in hand.
Murphy said: “Turning in, I thought ‘he’s lost all my trust’, but then he has come hard back on the bridle.
“I have always said he is a good horse and I just thought I would stick a tongue tie on him and he has seen his race out really strong.
“He is very good horse on his day. He has got there plenty soon enough and hasn’t done a stroke when he hit the front.
“We’ll look at something like Ascot (LongWalk Hurdle) over Christmas.
“I don’t see any reason why he wouldn’t be a Stayers’ Hurdle horse – there is not a lot on this side of the water.”
Betfair cut the winner to 16-1 from 40s for the Stayers’ Hurdle in March.
Paisley Park, the 2019 Stayers’ Hurdle winner, wearing cheekpieces for the first time, was still travelling well until landing awkwardly three out, which then put him under pressure, dropping back to third.
Trainer Emma Lavelle said: “We will go home and see how he is.
“Can we find a four-mile hurdle? He’s run grand without being brilliant and I think ultimately rain is what we need and that will help him.”
Jonbon established himself as a potential superstar when powering to a six-length success in the Play Ladbrokes 5-A-Side On Football National Hunt Maiden Hurdle.
Aidan Coleman settled the 11-10 favourite and fullbrother to Douvan early, but his slick hurdling pulled him to the front and he barely got out of second gear to beat Good Risk At All with ease.
Paddy Power slashed Jonbon to 3-1 favourite from 6-1 for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.