Easy for Aiteen Thirtythree after Massini heartbreak

AITEEN THIRTYTHREE was left an easy winner of the Grade Two GPG Novices’ Chase at Newbury after Tell Massini suffered a fatal injury at the fifth-last.

Tom George’s Tell Massini, the 8-11 favourite, supplemented a strong hurdling campaign with an impressive debut over the larger obstacles at Stratford last month but slid agonisingly slowly to the ground after the cross fence and veterinary officers later confirmed he had been put down.

Aiteen Thirtythree (13-2) has not yet lived up to the expectations of the Paul Nicholls stable, but his trainer is already hatching plans for next season after Noel Fehily kept him up to his work to finish 17 lengths clear.