Nicholls notches ton with Ottery

Venn Ottery gave Paul Nicholls his 100th winner of the season with a remarkable performance in the Manny Bernstein Hedging For Bookmakers Maiden Chase at Leicester today.

Joe Tizzard let the nine-year-old bowl along in front from the third fence after he refused to settle in midfield and Venn Ottery just kept on increasing the tempo.

Jumping with authority, the 15-8 chance went 15 lengths clear at one stage and won unchallenged by seven lengths from the evens favourite Tollbrae.

Nicholls has only had the horse, who was winning for the first time in 24 starts, in the last eight weeks as he was previously trained by his owner Oliver Carter.

“That was nothing more than I expected. I’ve never had a horse with as much power,” said the 85-year-old, who first took out a permit in 1962 and who saddled Otter Way to win the 1976 Whitbread Gold Cup.

“Paul wanted to buy the horse, but I said he didn’t have enough money, but that he could train him if we would agree the right terms,” added Carter, who has backed Venn Ottery at 1,000-1 to win the Queen Mother Champion Chase.

Venn Ottery is also in the Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup and he will have another race before a decision is made.

“We’ll find a three-mile chase for him to see if he stays,” said Carter, who has had Venn Ottery since the horse was six months old.

The stewards referred the running and riding of Tollbrae, partnered by Marcus Foley, to the Jockey Club.

The gelding’s trainer Nicky Henderson said: “I’ve no idea what the rules about these things are as it’s alien to me. I’ve not been in a stewards’ room for 20 years and I hope everybody knows that I’m not in the business of doing anything untoward.”

Foley told the stewards he did not ride Tollbrae more purposefully down the back straight due to concerns regarding his mount’s chasing experience and in respect of his moderate jumping.

Stipendiary steward Jeremy Ker admitted: “Did the rider obtain the best possible placing? I think he did, because I don’t believe he could have been any closer. If he had made more of an effort earlier, he probably would not have got home as well.

“It was the horse’s second run over fences and he’d jumped very novicey down the back side, and Henderson felt he would need further anyhow. It wasn’t a great ride, but it wasn’t an ill-judged one.”

Jimmy Tennis gained compensation for an untimely tumble at Doncaster last month with a convincing victory in the Manny Bernstein Bookmakers Early Price Service Handicap Chase.

The ex-French seven-year-old, trained by Venetia Williams, had gone down in many punters’ notebooks when he came down five out in the Skybet Handicap Chase as he was going terribly well at the time.

And the 5-2 favourite made amends in style, leading at the final fence and storming 10 lengths clear of Courage Under Fire.

This success also provided 5lb claimer Sam Thomas with better luck after being unseated from Limerick Boy in the Tote Gold Trophy at Newbury last Saturday.

“He was going superbly at Doncaster and I think he would have won,” reflected owner Derek Clee.

“He won a nice race when he first came over from France, but he hated the crowds in Britain. He got very nervous and sweated up at Cheltenham, but now Venetia has got him right. He had run a couple of nice races earlier.”

Jimmy Tennis’s main market rival Atlastaboy was most disappointing. He hit the 10th fence and was pulled up when well behind.

El Bandito earned a trip to Cheltenham with a smooth six-length victory over Quainton Hills in the Manny Bernstein Don’t Be Disqualified Again Handicap Chase.

The 11-4 favourite led approaching three out and stayed on strongly in the hands of Tom Doyle.

“He’s better going left-handed, so I think we’ll go for the Cathcart after this. He won’t run again before Cheltenham,” said trainer Richard Lee.

“He used to break blood vessels but he’s fine now,” added the Presteigne-based handler, who trains the 10-year-old for a 20-strong syndicate that includes his brother David.

Martin Pipe was the trainer to follow with a 103-1 double through Milord Lescribaa and Forbearing.

Milord Lescribaa cashed in on a final-flight mistake by hot favourite Parknasilla to lift the Manny Bernstein Freephone 0800 821 821 Juvenile Novices’ Hurdle.

There was little to choose between the pair as they took the last but the 11-10 shot made a mess of it, allowing Milord Lescribaa to stride hom by six lengths, with Hollywest 17 lengths back in third.

The winner was easy to back at 12-1 and was ridden by Rodi Greene, replacing the injured champion Tony McCoy.

“It was very soft ground out there today, but Rodi said he kept on galloping,” said Pipe’s travelling head lad Craig Wylie.

“The other horse has made a mistake, which has obviously helped our cause.”

McCoy may not have partnered 7-1 winner Forbearing in the Manny Bernstein Debit Card Betting Handicap Hurdle as 10lb claimer Noel Kavanagh usually takes the mount.

Sharpaten won his first race for almost three years when benefiting from a drop in class to take the Manny Bernstein Minimum £5 Per Call Claiming Hurdle.

The nine-year-old, a 7-2 chance, led two out and had enough in hand to hold the 6-4 favourite Court Of Justice by a length and a half, with Inigo Jones a neck away in third.

“He’s been running in much more competitive races than this and even won at the Grand National meeting at Aintree four years ago when he was trained in Ireland,” said Ian Williams, who has had the gelding for six months.