Vinndication may be saved for the National

VINNDICATION extended his unbeaten record with a three-and-a-quarter-length win in the Sydney Banks Novices’ Hurdle at Huntingdon.

The performance under jockey David Bass earned Vinndication 16-1 quotes for the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle at next month’s Cheltenham Festival.

But while his syndicate of 12 owners may be keen to follow that route, trainer Kim Bailey said he was keen to be patient as he is tempted to steer a course to Aintree’s Grand National meeting.

After his five-year-old had come home in front of useful Western Ryder, Bailey said: ‘I’d rather go to Aintree. I want to look after the horse. Temptations are put in front of you to be refused from time to time.’

Bailey conceded he now has his best crop of novice hurdlers for quite a while.

They include Red River, who beat a favourite to win the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle at Musselburgh on Sunday, and First Flow, who is unbeaten in three novices’ hurdles including the Grade Two Rossington Main Novices’ Hurdle at Haydock.