Racing: Lungo eyes Direct route to Cheltenham

Direct Access set out on the long road that could lead to Cheltenham next March with a pleasing debut over fences under Tony Dobbin in the D.A. Harrison Novices’ Chase at Carlisle.

His trainer Lenny Lungo has always said that the best of the six-year-old would be seen when he went chasing.

And Direct Access, who carries the colours of Ashleybank Investments, did not give him an anxious moment, jumping economically for Dobbin and after going on with four to jump he stayed on well to see off the challenge of Westmeath Flyer and go on to score by 11 lengths.

Lungo said: ‘‘It was the wrong ground and the wrong distance really, but we needed to start somewhere and the first three fences being uphill helped and it was not all about winning really but he was foot perfect and was very athletic when he needed to be.

‘‘We are looking to get him a lot of experience and then we will see if he is good enough to go to Cheltenham we will give him a break at some stage, but he is a clean-winded horse who does not need a lot of work.’’

Dobbin was certainly impressed with Direct Access, and he enthused: ‘‘He reminds me very much of The Grey Monk, he was not great at home either but he was awesome on the racecourse. He did everything I asked of him and I could not be more delighted.’’

Lungo and Dobbin had earlier initiated a double when Sumthyne Special, a course and distance winner two weeks ago, served up a repeat, jumping to the front with six to jump and making the rest, though he had to be ridden right out to the line to beat Hanakham by nine lengths in the Bowness Novices’ Hurdle.

‘‘He stays for ever, loves the track and the ground he would win one going up the north face of the Eiger! We will school him over fences soon, we do not want to wait much longer as he is a nine-year-old now,’’ said Lungo.

Granit d’Estruval, having his first outing since suffering concussion in a fall at Uttoxeter in February, was produced fit and ready by Ferdy Murphy to defy top weight under a lovely patient ride from Adrian Maguire in the Tote Credit Club Lucius Chase (Showcase Handicap).

Maguire sent him on running to the second last and he saw out the three and a quarter miles stoutly to pass the post with 22 lengths to spare over Lungo’s Ballystone.

He is going to make his mark in good long distance chases this season, and Murphy explained: ‘‘The good thing about the Uttoxeter fall is that he was concussed as he does not remember anything about it he had about two pints of blood in a haematoma on his neck when he left the course.

‘‘But he has come back really well, he is a nice horse who is still improving and he is an Eider Chase type, he has a lot of class but we will have to see what the handicapper does.’’