Pre-National boost for O'Neill

Jonjo O’Neill enjoyed a welcome confidence-boost just before Aintree’s prestigious John Smith’s Grand National meeting when Schapiro landed the opening event at Newbury this afternoon.

O’Neill has been struggling to find form with his runners since ending a self-imposed shutdown due to stable sickness that saw him go without a runner for a two-month period that started on Boxing Day.

Indeed, this was just the yard’s third success since resuming operations at Jackdaws Castle, but the 13-2 winner could hardly have done the job better as he comfortably took the Old Shires Thanks To Our Newbury Customers Juvenile Novices’ Handicap Hurdle.

Schapiro took over the lead at the third-last flight and Mick Fitzgerald drove him clear before easing down on the run-in to win by five lengths from Son Of Greek Myth.

“It’s always nice to have a winner,” beamed O’Neill, who saddles likely National favourite Clan Royal in the same colours in a week’s time.

"Clan Royal’s looking well, like this horse was looking.”

Red Devil Robert looked a smart prospect as he outbattled Bee An Bee to win the three-mile Stan James Handicap Chase.

Relishing the drying conditions, the lightly-raced seven-year-old belied his novice status to hand out a comfortable beating to some more-experienced rivals.

And although Bee An Bee pushed him all the way up the run-in, the 9-4 favourite always had the upper hand and held on by a length and a half under Christian Williams.

“I think he’ll probably have one more run this season and then we’ll put him away – I wouldn’t be surprised to see him among the Hennessy entries next season,” said trainer Paul Nicholls.

“I actually put him in a handicap at Aintree this Friday because he would only get a 4lb penalty. But I would have thought we were more likely to go to Ayr for a race on Scottish National day, or maybe a novice chase at Cheltenham. He wouldn’t want it too soft – today’s ground is ideal for him.”

Given that Red Devil Robert is owned like last season’s Hennessy hero Strong Flow by Barry Marshall and Paul Barber, punters might do well to remember the horse’s name for the future.

Especially given that in scoring here, he took more than three seconds off the course record.