Williams’hot streak rubs off on Pentiffic
Pentiffic rose to prominence Down Under in 2009, becoming the first horse in history to complete the prestigious treble of the Dominant Hiskens Chase, Crisp Chase and Grand National Chase (all of which are essentially hurdles) in the same season but he outgrew the crumbling confines of the Antipodean National Hunt scene.
He damaged a tendon after running in a valuable race in Japan and had made two starts for Williams before the Equimark Horseboxes Premier Novices’ Chase.
Nicky Henderson’s Problema Tic was the 1-4 favourite and had as many chances as he liked to win, but did not help himself by jumping sloppily at many of the fences.
This could not be said for the largely accurate Pentiffic, who weathered one last challenge from Problema Tic to hold on by a head for Aidan Coleman.
It was Williams’ 10th winner of a fortnight in which she has more than doubled her tally for the season, and the Herefordshire trainer had earlier won the equimarkhorseboxes.com Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle through Hohlethelonely (7-2).
Of Pentiffic, Williams’ assistant Jerry Roberts said: “I think Problema Tic’s jumping has helped him today, as ours jumps so well.
“We inherited him after he ran in Japan and gave him 12 months off straight away.
“It’s very difficult to quantify Australian form but he has run much better today than in his previous starts for us.”
Hohlethelonely was carrying a penalty for a recent success at Exeter and Harry Challoner survived a late burst from 3-1 favourite Clever Dick.
Roberts said: “I was just telling Venetia they’re coming like London buses now.
“It’s fair to say we didn’t have a good start to the season but they’re back to normal now. We struggled with various little issues with this horse but it’s likely he’ll have some more entries.”
Another Henderson hotpot sank in the EBF Equimark Horseboxes “National Hunt” Novices’ Hurdle when 1-5 favourite Ericht could not pick up Cousin Khee (5-1).
