Coolnagorna stars in McCoy four-timer
Coolnagorna was an effortless winner of the day’s biggest race in Britain as he took the Stan James Challow Hurdle at Newbury today.
It is not often that a Grade One contest will be one as easily as Jonjo O’Neill’s charge took the spoils and punters who took the odds-on about the winner were never worrying.
The 4-6 chance made every yard under Tony McCoy to beat Calling Brave by 29 lengths with Lady Laureate a further 13 lengths back in third place.
It was the third leg of a 48.5-1 fourfold that left fans of the champion jockey celebrating as they usually do.
For O’Neill, the win came less than 24 hours after Mini Sensation had landed a gamble in the valuable Coral Welsh National at Chepstow and his team are clearly in flying form going into the New Year.
“I was pleased with how well he jumped today,” said the trainer.
“We have always known that he had ability but he has tended to be a bit of a playboy, a character, who likes to look around a bit.
“He has only run on soft or heavy and I would be a bit worried about anything faster but you’d have to think about the SunAlliance Hurdle for him now if conditions were right.
“He has had a lot of schooling and it is paying off. He is a decent horse.”
McCoy’s four-timer had been initiated with Beyond The Pale (7-2) in the opening Anniversary Novices’ Hurdle.
The Noel Chance-trained gelding jumped well and led after three out before winning with something in hand.
Next came Montalcino, who made a made a hugely impressive chasing debut as he strode away with the H&T Pawnbrokers Novices’ Chase over two and a quarter miles.
Despite the trip being on the short side for the six-year-old he always travelled well behind 5-6 favourite First Love and quickly asserted when sent on at the third last fence.
The 2-1 winner was completing a double for champion jockey McCoy.
“That wasn’t bad for a small ’un,” said David Pipe, son of winning trainer Martin.
“AP was very positive on him and you had to be pleased with the way he jumped, especially as he is not a big horse. But he loves this ground and he looks a nice sort.”
Bookmakers William Hill inserted the winner into their ante-post betting for this year’s Royal & SunAlliance Novices’ Chase at 12-1 but Coral offer 16-1.
The four-timer was completed in the concluding bumper with 6-5 favourite Sixo.
Irish layers Paddy Power, who were offering even-money about McCoy reaching the 300-winner mark this season only a week ago, now offer just 4-7 after he moved on to 208 by the end of the afternoon.
Albert Ennis trained his first winner in 18 months with a trainer’s licence as Eltigri took the Stan James Mandarin Chase.
The 10-1 chance ended a frustrating spell for Ennis that has seen him saddle the runner-up 15 times.
Eltigri carried the colours of the stable’s principal patron, Andrew Wates, the owner of 1996 Grand National hero Rough Quest, who was trained by Ennis’ former boss, the late Terry Casey.
“Andrew is a true horseman and I owe him a lot – he is a great man to train for,” said Ennis.
“He told me that I mustn’t give up and I am so pleased we did it with this horse. He has had terrible problems and Terry and I used to spend ages nursing his legs.
“I just hope he is all right in the morning as there are more races to be won with him if he is okay.”
