Excello springs a Graduation surprise at Ascot
Nicky Henderson’s exciting French import Excello upset odds-on favourite Solo when running out a ready winner of the Howden Graduation Chase at Ascot yesterday.
In a contest previously won by the likes of Top Notch, Riders Onthe Storm and L’homme Presse, Solo set out to lead all the way and looked comfortable enough out in front.
However, four-year-old Excello was also travelling well and jumped alongside the pacesetter at the third-last before powering past him on the home turn.
Two good jumps up the straight allowed Nico de Boinville just to keep his mount focused for an impressive six-and-a-halflength success over two miles and five furlongs.
The 11-4 scorer was a winner over fences at Auteuil in March, and Henderson said: “The whole plan was to go novice hurdling this season and then to come back chasing not as a novice.
“But the way he is doing that, would you really want to go back to novice hurdling? You may as well get on and do what he’s good at – and that’s jumping.
“He went a bit left a few times, but you wouldn’t be worried about that. At Ascot, you will always see them just wander that way, it’s a natural trait.
“We schooled him Tuesday to see if this is something we could do and he was so good. I wouldn’t bring too many four-year-olds here to jump those fences.
“That’s probably the handicap mark gone out the window as well, so that route is not an option. He’s five at Christmas, so he loses that four-year-old slight advantage.
“It’s very French and they have already run over fences as a three and four-year-old – and this is Mr Henderson trying to parler francaise.”
There was heartbreak for followers of Harper’s Brook when he threw away victory in the Howden Handicap Chase by faltering close home, allowing Triple Trade to claim a dramatic triumph.
Kielan Woods set a fast pace on Harper’s Brook, who ran his rivals ragged and jumped superbly throughout, with a big leap at the last fence looking sure to have sealed it.
However, he stopped to a near-walk on the run-in and Triple Trade swooped in the dying strides under Brendan Powell to oblige by half a length at 9-4.
Winning trainer Joe Tizzard said: “He hasn’t actually had his ground this season because he wants soft ground, but he’s winning anyway and had he not missed four out, which he missed badly, he would have been able to travel a bit longer.”