No stopping classy Ustedes
The four-year-old justified 6-4 favouritism in the £12,000-added contest, taking up the running after two out and putting in a fine leap at the last before denying My World by five lengths, with Big Moment a further eight lengths adrift in third.
A scorer at Warwick on his chasing debut, connections are now dreaming of Cheltenham in March. Noel Williams, assistant to winning trainer Alan King, said: “We know he has plenty of ability and handles this soft ground from his juvenile hurdling form.
“If anything he travelled too well and got to the front too soon, but that can only bode well for when he’s stepped up in class.
“One step at a time, but I am sure the Arkle Chase is at the back of Mr King’s mind.”
Fleet Street, third behind Brave Inca in the 2004 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, was unable to make a winning comeback after a 619-day absence, jumping right the whole way and ploughing through the fourth-last.
Josear was a very easy winner at 7-2 of the opening Carole & Roy Reeve 40th Anniversary Juvenile Novices’ Hurdle, coming home 18 lengths ahead of Dance Hall Diva under Shane Walsh.
Laconicos was a further 20 lengths back in third.
Winning trainer Chris Down did not think his charge would be suited by the ground.
He said: “I always thought this horse wanted it firm. I have never known a three-year-old handle his racing like this fellow and I’ll keep running him while he copes with it.”
What A Vintage was another 7-2 winner on her hurdling debut, leading two out for Richard Johnson to beat Double Dizzy by six lengths, with favourite Something Wells half a length away in third.
“That was a nice debut and depending how she comes out of it, we may go for a Warwick qualifier at the end of the month for the mares’ final at Newbury in March,”said winning trainer Richard Phillips.
Mon Mome (9-2) defied top-weight in the Barry Davies Memorial Handicap Chase by six lengths to Infrasonique. The five-year-old was running over almost 10 furlongs further than when second last time. “You have to take opportunities when they arise,” explained Jerry Roberts, winning trainer Venetia Williams’ travelling head lad.
