Kadount breaks his duck

KADOUNT put his chasing experience to good use as he belatedly got off the mark over fences at Plumpton yesterday.

A useful hurdler last season for Alan King, the seven-year-old had been unfortunate to run into some decent types on his previous starts over the larger obstacles.

And with this contest looking an above-average event for Plumpton, featuring several decent types, it was hardly a penalty kick here.

Indeed it looked as if defeat might be on the cards again for Kadount when Robert Thornton had to shake his mount up in the early stages after a couple of lazy jumps.

But asked to get into the race down the back straight in the final circuit, Kadount came back on the bridle and surged into the lead past Greenhope and Limerick Boy on the home turn.

Greenhope made a fight of it as best he could over the final two fences but the 6-4 favourite had something in hand and stayed on to score by four lengths.

“On paper we hoped he would win today because he has really come up against some very nice horses so far this season,” said King’s assistant Noel Williams.

“He handled the ground well, just as he did over hurdles, and hopefully this win will give him a bit of confidence.

“I don’t know what was going on with him early on, Robert thought he was just taking the mickey with him a bit because once he put him into the race he came right back on the bridle and was travelling strongly again.”

Leighton Aspell was unseated from Bound when a beaten fifth at the third-last fence but was not seriously injured, although he was stood down for the remainder of the day.

Willie McCarthy caught the eye when giving Toulouse-Lautrec a well-judged ride to take the skybet.com Handicap Chase over a marathon three miles and five furlongs.

The 21-year-old conditional, who has been based with winning trainer Tom George for five months since coming to Britain at the end of the Irish point-to-point season, was enjoying his first victory under Rules but looked most accomplished as he brought the 5-1 co-favourite home by two and a half lengths from Apple Joe.

“That was Willie’s first winner and he rode him perfectly to orders as he can’t be committed into his fences,” said Sophie George, wife of the winning trainer.

“He is just a galloper and really the ground wasn’t as soft as he would have liked as he goes on it when it is bottomless.

“If he ever goes for a big race then it will be the Midlands National at Uttoxeter as he likes the track there.”