Lee glee at Nolan foresight

Trainer Richard Lee praised jockey Micheal Nolan’s forward thinking after he guided top-weight Scales to victory in the Higos Insurance Services Bridgwater Handicap Hurdle at Taunton yesterday.

An 11-4 favourite, despite having failed to win in 12 previous attempts over obstacles, the seven-year-old pulled fiercely for his head in the opening exchanges of the near two-and-a-half-mile test due to the sedate early gallop.

With the initial plan of taking his time not working out, conditional jockey Nolan decided to allow his mount to stride on and it proved a tactical triumph.