Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Musselburgh wins boost for Lucinda
Misfits won over fences and Jump For Dough won over hurdles.
Lucinda said: “It has taken us time to get the right trip for Misfits, however three miles is definitely the distance for him.
“At Musselburgh, he travelled really well, jumped superbly and galloped all the way to the line. We are looking for him now to progress.”
She went on: “Jump For Dough has struck a good relationship with conditional jockey Thomas Willmott.
“He is foot perfect, has plenty of stamina and won well going away for his enthusiastic owners.”
Lucinda also recorded two close seconds.
Boys On Tour took a step forward and jumped extremely well for just his second chase, losing by a short head.
Dr Hooves was rather green in the home straight coming second to a well regarded winner.
TRAINER Tom George is looking forward to getting The Worlds End back on track in the galliardhomes.com Cleeve Hurdle at Cheltenham on Saturday.
The Worlds End ended the last campaign with victory in the Grade One Sefton Novices’ Hurdle over an extended three miles at Aintree in April but things have not gone so well so far this season.
The seven-year-old ran no race on his reappearance in the Betfair Stayers’ Handicap Hurdle at Haydock i n November but ran more encouragingly when fourth to Sam Spinner in the Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot last month.
“The Worlds End is in good form. We are aiming towards the Cleeve Hurdle, weather permitting,” said Tom.
“It was a good run at Ascot. The race before that at Haydock was a non-event for him and I think you can put a line through that.
“Ascot was almost like his first race of the season and he has come on a lot since then. He has been working well and it looks like he is starting to come to himself.
“He needs to improve a bit on what he has done but he is a young horse and one of a few in the staying division that could improve some more.”
KIM Bailey is happy to send Charbel straight for the Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival after sidestepping Ascot on Saturday.
The trainer reports the seven-yearold’s preparation to be going well but felt the ground for the Clarence House Chase would not have been suitable.
Bailey would love Charbel to be at his prime in his bid to atone for last year’s ill fortune when the horse fell at the second last fence in the Arkle Trophy when still setting the pace ahead of winner Altior.
“The plan was to run in the Clarence House Chase but we made the decision the ground was too soft,” said Bailey.“He ran a blinder in the Tingle Creek where he didn’t jump great at a few. He goes straight to Cheltenham now.”
It was a good day for Milnathort-based trainer Lucinda Russell at Musselburgh when she clocked up her 625th career success.