Alright Now M’Lad a 33-1 winner for McCoy
The champion jockey struck in the first division of the Sky Bet Press Red to Bet on ATR Novices’ Hurdle when the Jonjo O’Neill-trained 33-1 chance ran out a surprise scorer.
The son of Supreme Leader had been beaten out of sight at the same odds at Exeter on his previous start. But six-year-old found conditions playing to his strengths and stayed on well to win by nine lengths from the rallying Josear.
McCoy reported to the stewards the winner had been suited by the fast early pace and the testing ground.
Favourite-backers fared much better in the second division, however, when Temoin made a winning bow under Mick Fitzgerald. The even-money chance must have given his supporters a scare when crawling over the first flight but fortunately he warmed up from that point.
And although Fitzgerald took time to organise the winner on the run-in, he ultimately stretched clear to beat Glimmer of Light by two and a half lengths.
“As soon as Fitzy grabbed hold of him he has jumped nicely,” said Jamie Snowden, representing winning trainer Nicky Henderson. “We’d had the DVDs out of his French races and he actually has a very fast finish, but this race was something different for him as they didn’t go much of a pace at all.
“He was bought by Richard Stiles, who has had several horses with us before, and he could be quite a nice horse.
“His schooling wasn’t very good at all at first, but he has learnt quickly.”
Trainer and jockey went on to complete a double when even-money favourite Brankley Boy was driven out to win the closing Play Roulette & Blackjack @ skybetvegas.com Handicap Hurdle.
Dunsfold Duke (8-1) lived up to the promise of his Sandown debut as he ran out an impressive winner of the EBF Play Elvis ‘National Hunt’ Novices’ Hurdle.
An eyecatching second to Mendo, he followed that up with a disappointing run at Chepstow when badly behaved for the race.
But with trainer Peter Winkworth’s assistant Anton Pearson saddling the horse up away from the track this time rather than risking his temperament in the parade ring, Dunsfold Duke was much more amenable and ran on well to make a successful debut over hurdles as he beat Rare Gold by 12 lengths.
“He ran an absolute blinder at Sandown, but reared up and cut his head next time and ran a stinker,” said Pearson.
