Western Morning News (Saturday)
Gelino Bello’s win lands top prize at Exeter
GELINO BELLO, ridden by Lorcan Williams, landed the £25,000 Delightful Di at Dazzling 60 Novices’ Chase, Exeter’s most valuable race of the afternoon, to set up a first and last race double for trainer Paul Nicholls.
Disappointingly, only two were declared for this valuable opening contest, but it was never dull and racegoers may have seen a horse with a future in the shape of Gelino Bello who beat his sole rival City Chief with some ease.
The contest could have been over for City Chief at the final fence on the first circuit where he made a bad mistake, but Nico de Boinville sat tight and, having recovered his momentum, closed the gap on Gelino Bello going out into the country again.
Despite jumping to his right at several fences, Gelino Bello slowly, but surely asserted and, with his rival tiring over the final two fences, came right away to win by 29 lengths.
With the exception of Captain Cuckoo, the runners were tightly grouped as they came into the home straight for the Pony Racing Authority Graduates Handicap Hurdle over two and a quarter miles, for which bottom-weight Getaway Cory was sent off the 9/4 favourite. It was 4/1 shot Karakoram, the mount of Tristan Durrell, who is attached to the Dan Skelton stable, who came clear between the final two flights to get his reward for some good recent efforts, comfortably beating Isle Of Aron and Gyllen, who were separated by a short head.
Blenkinsop, raised 10lbs for his win at Southwell, was set to carry top weight in the the IJF South West Hub Now Open Novices’ Handicap Hurdle over two miles and five furlongs. However, he was able to run off his old handicap mark plus a 7lb penalty here and was made the hot 8/11 favourite to follow up. Held up by Hugh Nugent on the tail of the leading group, Blenkinsop hit the front at the third-last flight and was always holding his rivals from there on, finishing clear of 10/1 shot Trevada.
Lallygag was looking for a course hattrick in the British Stallion Studs EBF “National Hunt” Novices’ Hurdle (Qualifier), but this progressive horse faced a stiff task trying to concede 10lbs to Dan Skelton’s Grey Dawning, who was made the 1/2 favourite. Making the running in the hands of Freddie Gingell, Lallygag stretched the field down the back straight, but couldn’t see off Grey Dawning who was snapping at his heals over the last three flights and came away on the run-in to score by one and a quarter lengths.
Ree Okka was made the 7/4 favourite to add to trainer Harry Fry’s two winners at Sedgefield earlier in the afternoon and land the Class 3 Martin Jones Decorative Specialists Handicap Chase, in which the four fences down the back straight were omitted due to the lowlying sun. The favourite never looked like scoring, however, as Shakem Up’arry, carrying the colours of Harry Redknapp, led over the fourth-last fence and made the best of his way home to beat Tile Tapper.
The sun had gone down and there was drizzle in the air as the runners set out for the longest race of the afternoon, the Class 3 Millie, Mo And Meggan Birthday Handicap Chase over the marathon distance of three and three-quarter miles. It went to Favori De Sivola, confidently ridden by David Noonan, who made every yard of the running to beat Light Flicker with De Young Warrior, who made a mistake at the last, back in third.
The Nicholls-trained Inthewaterside out-gunned Take No Chances to win the closing #racingiseveryonessport Open National Hunt Flat Race.