Hobbs and Johnston strike gold with 66/1 treble
Having already landed the feature Greatwood Handicap Hurdle with Detroit City and the Independent Newspaper Novices’ Chase with Fair Along, Massini’s Maguire stayed on well to win the Gideon Kasler Novices’ Hurdle by half a length from Wichita Lineman.
The 6-1 chance jumped the last hurdle with his nose in front and found plenty to repel a determined drive from Tony McCoy on the runner-up.
Juveigneur, having a prep race for the Hennessy Gold Cup, was six lengths away in third.
Hobbs said: “I am very pleased as, at long last, Massini’s has won a decent race – he kept getting placed in them without winning.
“He won an egg-and-spoon race at Chepstow before being beaten in the Persian War Novices’ Hurdle again.
“Richard hasn’t really know how to ride him – he has hung onto him before - but he did the opposite and committed him and he stayed on very well.
“At the end of the day, he’ll be better over fences but he’ll stay over hurdles now and go over the bigger ones as a six-year-old.
“Before racing, I’d have been quite happy for just Detroit City to win and if I had known that he was going to win, I would have accepted that.”
Massini’s Maguire was introduced into the betting at 20-1 for the Royal & SunAlliance Novices’ Hurdle by Paddy Power, who left Wichita Lineman at 10-1.
Ladbrokes cut Juveigneur to 14-1 (from 20s) for the Hennessy.
Ruby Walsh and Paul Nicholls continued where they left off on Saturday as Cornish Sett recorded a respective fifth and fourth success at the Open meeting in the Jersey Graduation Chase.
The winning 7-4 joint-favourite disputed the lead with long-time leader Fundamentalist from three out before Cornish Sett asserted control.
Fundamentalist battled back gamely, however, and only went down by a neck.
Nicholls said: “He jumped beautifully after running deplorably over hurdles here when we fancied him. That was his first time over three miles and it suited him.
“He jumped the fence three out so well and he probably got there too soon.
“The plan was to get there as late as he can but I’ll forgive Ruby that!
“These graduation chases are great for horses like this one for experience as if they go into a handicap off a mark of around 150 it is very difficult.
“They are a great innovation and he can now go for a three-mile handicap following a confidence-booster.”
There was a sting in the tail for both Walsh and Tony Evans, rider of the runner-up, who received a two- and one-day ban respectively for excessive use of the whip.
Walsh will be out of action on November 23-24.
