Coleman makes Mares’amends
SNOW Leopardess helped Aidan Coleman make amends for 12 months previously when running out a clear-cut winner of the EBF & TBA Mares’ National Hunt Novices’ Hurdle Finale at Newbury.
Having crossed the line first on Lady Of Lamanver last year only to lose the race to Briery Queen in the stewards’ room, Coleman had no such worries this time.
The grey, who had won a valuable bumper at Gowran in September for Charlie Longsdon, bounded clear of fellow 7-1 joint-favourite Copper Kay to win by four lengths.
Coleman said: “I got a lovely run round, she travelled brilliantly.
“She has a lot of courage and did it well. She did have a look around in front, but she’s a really nice filly and to be fair to Charlie, if you look at her form, she has been campaigned brilliantly.
“She won a good bumper at Gowran, she ran well in the mares’ race last year at Aintree and now she’s won this, it’s great.
“She’s got a great attitude, I’m just delighted really.”
Longsdon, who has a Grade One mares’ contest at Fairyhouse in mind for his winner, said: “She’s always been good, I got it totally wrong last time, she was only half-fit and it was totally my fault, I made a mistake there.
“She’d done plenty of work since and she’s won as I hoped she would today. She doesn’t show a lot at home, she’s very laid-back.
“She keeps herself for the racecourse and has a lovely way of going. It’s onwards and upwards.”
Warriors Tale followed up a win at the track three weeks ago off a 7lb higher mark in even more impressive fashion in the Insure With Be Wiser Handicap Chase.
Paul Nicholls’ chaser is finally delivering on his early promise with Nicky Richards and now has options at Aintree and Ayr.
Sean Bowen was in the saddle and told ITV Racing: “He loves Newbury, I think he’s only ever run one bad race here. He was always going to love the drying ground and he did, he bounced off it. It was ideal.
“Paul’s horses are running well and hopefully we’ll keep banging in the winners.”
Bowen doubled up when Deauville Crystal (9-1) landed the OCSL Juvenile Handicap Hurdle for in-form trainer Nigel Hawke.
Ian Williams’ Bodega (7-1) turned what looked a competitive-looking Be Wiser Insurance Handicap Chase into a procession.
Ridden confidently by Tom O’Brien, he was eight lengths too good for top-weight Call Me Vic.
O’Brien said: “He jumped really well, I had a good spin round. He has idling in front, I was in front too soon.
“He was brought down over fences and I think he remembered it a little bit. The good thing about this track is you can get a little bit of room and get their confidence. He enjoyed it.”
Williams said: “This horse loves good ground and Tom has given him an exceptional ride. Early on he gave him some confidence, he was brought down last year and that’s why we’ve kept him to hurdles.
“It was a big ask to come back to Newbury, but he gave him a chance early on, got him jumping well and he loved the ground and pulled away nicely at the end.”