The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Ballyandy victorious at Glorious Finale
RACING: Perth’s season rounded off in fine style
The Timothy Hardie Jewellers Novices’ Chase has a rich history, and it produced another worthy winner in the shape of Ballyandy in the final action of the year at Perth.
Sent off the 8/13 favourite, he was piloted to a one-length success over Fagan by Sam Twiston-davies.
Grand National hero Bindaree, Fundamentalist and Double Ross are just three of the stars to have landed the 2m 4f event for trainer Nigel Twistondavies, who was also successful 12 months ago with subsequent Grade 1 winner Flying Angel.
He said: “I always bring my best novice hurdler from the previous season up for this, and he did it well enough.
“I won’t be scared to drop him back to two miles, and he will run in all the top novice chases this season.”
Jet Master received a rapturous reception after he landed the Anderson Anderson & Brown Handicap Hurdle for the third year in a row.
Nick Alexander’s 9/4 joint-favourite, co-owned by Harry Turcan and Sir Simon Dunning, was again partnered by the Kinneston trainer’s daughter Lucy as he saw off Thunder Sheik by two lengths.
The winning handler said: “He’s very versatile as he’s also won three times over fences. His next target will be Newcastle in mid-november for the chase that he won last year.”
Local trainers Lucinda Russell and Lucy Normile were on the mark with Mumgos Debut and Cruachan, while there was another Scottish success in the shape of Iain Jardine-trained Golden Jeffrey.
On a cracking Glorious Finale card the awards for leading Perth owner, trainer and jockey went respectively to Paul and Clare Rooney, Gordon Elliott and Brian Hughes.
After a superb season, Perth Racecourse is already looking ahead with early bird tickets for next year available from next month on perth-races.co.uk.