Paul’s back in Old routine

OLD GUARD led home a Paul Nicholls 1-2 when beating stablemate San Benedeto in the Listed Matchbook VIP Hurdle at Kempton Park yesterday.

“He pings off the good ground and he felt like a good horse again,” jockey Harry Cobden said of the winner.

He was the third leg of a four-timer for the 10-time champion jumps trainer.

LIBRISA BREEZE is being lined up for a tilt at the Hong Kong Sprint at Sha Tin on December 10 after his triumph at Ascot on Saturday.

The grey arrived late under Robert Winston to lift the Champions Sprint and give trainer Dean Ivory and owner Tony Bloom a first Group 1 success.

“We got the entry for Hong Kong in yesterday,” said Ivory. “It took a lot out of him, but he seems very well this morning.”