Games strengthens Neptune claims
The Grade One contest looked strong on paper, but two flights out Noel Fehily was sat motionless as Blaklion and Vyta Du Roc were fighting it out in front.
Just as Vyta Du Roc got the better of Blaklion, Fehily delivered Parlour Games on the stands side to assert by a neck.
Trainer John Ferguson said he was nonplussed why his six-year-old went off at 6-1 after he had trounced Blaklion in a Grade Two at Cheltenham in November.
He said: “I always felt he was the best we’d had, and that he was all class.
“He did just the same as at Cheltenham last time, which is just great.
“I did find it quite interesting that he went off at the price he did after beating Blaklion four and a half lengths on that occasion.
“He’s a gorgeous horse to have around and is bred like he’s in the royal family.
“That was the first time Noel had sat on him, and he was impressed.
“I don’t think he needs to run again before Cheltenham.”
Fehily completed a double when making all the running for a hard-fought victory on Polamco (13-2) in the Betfred “Follow Us On Facebook” Handicap Hurdle.
Hard though Morito Du Berlais tried, Harry Fry’s charge would not be denied and prevailed by a neck.
Fry said: “He’s jumped and travelled as well as he’s ever done.
“That was his fourth start over hurdles and he’s going the right way.
“We know he stays and is a proper stayer in the making.
“He did it the hard way from the front.”
Another to boost his Festival claims was Top Notch (11-8), who was cut into 16-1 from 33-1 for the JCB Triumph Hurdle after giving Nicky Henderson another string to his juvenile championship bow.
The former Guillaume Macaire-trained gelding stretched his unbeaten record to three with a four-and-a-half-length success over Mick Jazz in the Betfred ’Fun And Friendly’ Juvenile Hurdle under Barry Geraghty.
Henderson said: “I thought it was a good performance. I didn’t know what to make of him because he never shows off.
“He’s not very big, but under a 10lb penalty that was a fair performance.”
Henderson and Geraghty doubled up in the last when Clean Sheet (6-5 favourite) got up in the last stride to deny long-time leader Seven Nation Army by a short head in the Betfred Supports Jack Berry House Introductory Hurdle.
Far West (9-4) responded to Sam Twiston-Davies’ urgings to snatch victory in the Betfred “Racing’s Biggest Supporter” Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase.
Almost brought down when Fayette County fell at the third-last, Far West recovered to come with a rattling run when switched to the far side, scoring by half a length from Seventh Sky.
“I told Sam to produce him late and use his hurdling speed,” said trainer Paul Nicholls.
“That was going to plan until he almost got brought down at the third-last, but he did get up and win nicely, which was good.
“He was a good hurdler and is just getting his act together over fences now.
“He can only go forwards from here. Where we go now I’ve no idea.
“He can’t go run in the novice handicap at Cheltenham now. He’s too high for that and he’s not really an Arkle horse.
“He’s a horse that can run either side of Cheltenham instead.”
