Fred gets it right for Henderson at trials
● Trainer’s only runner strikes in Novices’ Hurdle
Fred, Nicky Henderson’s only runner at Musselburgh’s twoday Scottish Cheltenham Trials fixture, was a game winner of the bet365 Scottish Supreme Novices’ Hurdle yesterday.
A well-backed 5-4 favourite, he pipped Malystic by a head and winning jockey Daryl Jacob said: “I don’t think he will be a Cheltenham horse this year and I didn’t think passing the stands he would be winning today either. He had to dig deep out there and who knows once he goes over fences he could turn up at Cheltenham one day.”
The Listed bet365 Scottish Triumph Hurdle, which could be upgraded to Grade 2 status in the future, went to Harry Cobden-ridden and Paul Nicholls-trained Thyme White.
Nicholls’ assistant Harry Derham said: “We will see what mark he gets after this and then see if he goes for the Triumph Hurdle or the juvenile handicap at Cheltenham. He’s a lovely big horse and not the type of horse you normally see in juvenile hurdles although he handed the track and toughed it out.”
Olly Murphy, who bagged the first Grade 1 of his training career at Sandown on Saturday, struck with I K Brunel in the bet365 Scottish Stayers Novices’ Hurdle.
“I don’t know if he’s mentally ready for Cheltenham or Aintree this year,” Murphy said. “He’s a horse I’ve always liked and he saw out this longer trip well.”
The day started with a win for Lucinda Russell with Dr Hooves, a 14-1 scorer under Stephen Mulqueen in the bet365 Novices’ Handicap Chase.
Meanwhile, at Wolverhampton this evening, Via Serendipity, who could not quite hold Another Touch at Newcastle last time, can gain his revenge in the Bombardier Golden Beer Conditions Stakes.
Despite running too free in the early stages, Stuart Williams’ six-year-old looked like landing the spoils when he hit the front over a furlong out, but he had no answer to Another Touch’s late challenge and went down by threequarters of a length.
That narrow defeat in a fasttrack qualifier meant Via Serendipity just missed out on securing a place on All-weather Championships Finals Day. However, it was a good effort and he can gain compensation against his old rival.
Ember’s Glow has been quite consistent of late and can register a third course success in the Betway Classified Stakes.
Mark Loughnane’s six-yearold ran a nice race at Kempton last time when third to Wally’s Wisdom and a return to Dunstall Park can result in a fourth career win for the Sepoy gelding.