McFabulous is just fabulous

MCFABULOUS, pulled up on his chasing debut at Wincanton, got off the mark over fences when taking an eventful running of the Class 3 RGB Building Supplies Adier Rayner Novices’ Chase at Exeter’s Samworth Brothers 25 Year Club Celebration Raceday.

There was drama at the very first fence when chasing debutant Camprond unseated Aidan Coleman. Although without a jockey, Camprond decided to continue in the race, running across the remaining three runners on several occasions and completing a full circuit of the course before being caught.

With outsider Merchant In Milan fading out of contention leaving the back straight, it was McFabulous and Unexpected Party who faced the last four fences together, separated by the width of the course. There was nothing between them coming to the final jump, but McFabulous came away from it the better and this winner of eight races over hurdles, including the Grade 2 bet365 Select Hurdle at Sandown Park in April, asserted on the run-in to score by nine lengths.

Unexpected Party was returning after wind surgery and this was a big improvement on his last run when pulled up at the Cheltenham Festival in March.

The Composeur and Caspers Court cut out the running in the opening RGB Building Supplies Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle but, by the second-last flight, the race lay between Langley Hundred and Raddon Top. They ran neck and neck right up to the line with Langley Hundred, on whom Elizabeth Gale was having just her third ride, prevailing by a short head. Caspers Court faded into third and looks like he would benefit from a drop back from this two miles and seven furlongs trip.

Fifteen lined up for the Samworth Novices’ Hurdle in which Paul Nicholls’ Timeforatune, described by jockey Harry Cobden as “a big green baby with loads of ability”, was sent off the

4/6 favourite to score over hurdles at the second time of asking and complete a stable double. He was taken straight into the lead by Cobden and, despite running about approaching the hurdles, jumped them straight and true and beat Western General and Newton Abbot bumper winner Far Sight.

Midnight Glance, wearing cheek-pieces for the first time, reversed his Uttoxeter placing with the fast-finishing Representing Bob to land the Haynes Handicap Chase. One to take out of the race is 25/1 outsider Kingsmill Gin, making her first racecourse appearance since April for Saltash trainer Jackie du Plessis, who was in with a chance until fading over the last two fences to finish third.

Dual hurdles winner Mr Glass, retuning after wind surgery, was made 6/4 favourite to complete a treble on the afternoon for the Nicholls/ Cobden combination in the Ginsters Peppered Stake Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase over three miles. He made the early running along with Dan Skelton’s Hidden Heroics until a mistake dropped him to the rear of the quartet.

Young Butler came into contention until he, in turn, made a mistake and unseated Tom Bellamy down the back straight leaving Hidden Heroics, to come home for a comfortable win.

Lutinebella, who had run well over hurdles at Warwick when finishing third to Notnowlinda, shared favouritism with Fairy Gem in the Pasty Past The Post Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle and built on that run when jumping the last flight better than Annie Magic to win by 4 ¼ lengths, with Fairy Gem only fourth.

Micronormous just pipped Big Fish in the closing Wadge’s Wager National Hunt Flat Race, with the well-backed favourite Carrigmoorrna Rowan making late headway to finish third.