Lacdoudal wins test of stamina

TOUGH customer Lacdoudal opened up a host of new opportunities as he conclusively proved his stamina for three miles when taking the John Smith’s Future Stars Steeplechase at Sandown yesterday.

The Philip Hobbs-trained gelding (3-1) took up the running before halfway and drew the sting from his rivals as he steadily increased the pace under Richard Johnson.

My Will and El Vaquero looked dangerous on the run to the second-last fence, but the leader found more than both those rivals up the run-in and stayed on to win by six lengths, with My Will rallying to regain second spot in the final strides.