The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Jockey Hughes notches 78-1 treble at Perth
Perth: Ballyben part of a 78-1 treble for the northernbased jockey
Brian Hughes was in sparkling form at Perth where he enjoyed a 78-1 treble on Eneko, Ballyben and Sun Cloud.
The highlight was the victory of Ballyben, who made light work of a 170day absence to defeat his three rivals in the David Whitaker Handicap Chase.
The nine-year-old, trained by Malcolm Jefferson, was always up with the pace set in the early stages by Carrigdhoun before going on a long way from home.
Arctic Gold was the only serious threat until an untidy jump at the last fence put paid to his chances, with Ballyben (7-2) going on to score by nine lengths.
“It was a good performance and I thought he’d run well,” said Jefferson.
“I got him last year from Lucinda Russell and I know more about him now. He blew up first time for me at Hexham.”
Hughes proceeded to make virtually all on Sun Cloud (4-1), also from the Jefferson stable, in the Weatherbys Private Bank Handicap Hurdle.
The 10-year-old was briefly headed by Ahead Of The Curve but rallied on the run-in to get back up, taking the verdict by two and a quarter lengths.
“I said to Brian if you can’t hold him, make the running and he pulled out more when challenged,” said the Malton handler.
Hughes’ hat-trick was initiated by the Keith Dalgleish-trained Eneko (5-2), who made a successful jumps debut with a promising display in the Heineken UK Juvenile Hurdle.
Brutal led to two out where Eneko drew away to score by 13 lengths.
Hughes went close to a four-timer on Presented but the duo were denied by conditional jockey Ross Chapman on Martin Todhunter’s Landmeafortune (9-4) in the Weatherbys Private Bank Handicap Chase.
Champion jockey Richard Johnson and top Irish trainer Gordon Elliott teamed up with Pat’s Oscar (2-1) for a comfortable seven-length success in the Injured Jockeys Funds Supporters Club Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle.
Danny Cook’s only ride was a winning one as he brought the Brian Ellisontrained even-money favourite Barrys Jack home three lengths clear of Well Above Par in the Weatherbys Private Bank Novices’ Handicap Chase.
Perth’s season ends in style today with Ballyandy one of the stars on parade as he makes his debut over fences.
The seven-race card needs to pass an 8am precautionary inspection due to the threat of overnight rain.
Course chief executive Hazel Peplinski said: “Let’s hope we avoid the worst of the rain and complete the season, but we shall not compromise safety and there are some things you just can’t control.”
Trained by Nigel Twiston-Davies, Ballyandy faces three rivals, including the useful Fagan, in the Timothy Hardie Jewellers Novices’ Chase.
Ballyandy was second on his hurdles bow at the corresponding meeting last year before finishing fourth in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.
The Gordon Elliott-trained Fagan, already a wide-margin winner at Perth this season, was a close runner-up in the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle at the 2016 Cheltenham Festival.