Walsh and Williams rule at Taunton
Sound Investment (5-6 favourite) was first to make his mark for Walsh, going a little way towards living up to his name in the Happy New Year Maiden Hurdle.
Graham Wylie’s £100,000 purchase had been given something of a hurdling baptism of fire when introduced to obstacles against the high-class Puffin Billy at Newbury, but faced nothing of that calibre here.
One scrape at the final flight was no serious interruption towards a 12-length victory.
Saphir Du Rheu was arguably even more impressive than his stablemate, despite his winning margin being a length shorter in the Castle Hotel In Taunton “National Hunt” Novices’ Hurdle.
Punters had latched on to God Of The Kop at the expense of the uneasy 7-4 favourite, but Tony McCoy’s mount had no answer when Walsh pressed the button approaching the last.
The winner had been third on his debut in France and again at Newbury six weeks ago.
“He was a bit weak at Newbury but felt much stronger and he picked up really well,” said Walsh. “He’s a stayer, and looks a chaser in the making.”
The Williams treble took her seasonal total past the half-century mark.
There was an element of fortune for Coleman about win number one, where Emperor’s Choice (6-4 favourite) inched past Shuil Royale and Guess Again by a respective short head and a head in a phenomenal finish for the Annual Membership Proves Great Value Beginners’ Chase.
“When I jumped the second-last I thought I’d win, but I got my reins in a muddle. Fair play to the horse, he got the job done,” said Coleman, who was given a two-day ban (Jan 21-22) for using his whip above the permitted level.
Tom Scudamore must serve the same days for careless riding on Guess Again.
Second winner for the Williams team was Bennys Mist (5-4 favourite), who clambered over the final fence of the BBC Stargazing Live Here 10th January Handicap Chase but was still far beyond recall.
“That’s our 50th winner,” Williams said. “I ended in the 50s last season, but we got there this fast a couple of seasons some time ago.”
Then it was up to 4-6 market leader Jupiter Rex to follow up last week’s course and distance triumph in the Come Racing For A Tenner 29th January Handicap Hurdle.
