Henderson gets full Market value
The Market Man put in a fine performance under Marcus Foley to land the feature Thwaites Smooth Beer Handicap Hurdle on the first day of Cheltenham’s new season.
Nicky Henderson’s five-year-old was sent off the 9-2 joint-favourite and jumped to the front two flights from home.
And despite Tony McCoy driving runner-up Fire Dragon with all his might, Henderson’s charge held on by a length and a quarter, with Goblet Of Fire staying on well for third.
Barry Simpson, racing manager to winning owner Sir Robert Ogden, said: “We came here with a view to taking him out of the race but it is lovely, good ground, which we have always thought he wanted.
“He has a soft ground action but connections in New Zealand, where he finished fifth in the New Zealand Derby before we bought him, were adamant he wanted good ground.
“The plan had been to go chasing with him but I will talk to Nicky and Sir Robert and maybe have a rethink. There is a race on the Sunday of the Paddy Power meeting here in two weeks’ time which could be within his capabilities.”
Ostfanni made it four on the bounce when denying favourite backers in the Waterlaw Property Developers Novices’ Hurdle.
The Martin Todhunter-trained 5-1 chance stayed on up the hill to collar the front-running 7-2 market leader Darasim after the final flight and score by two and half lengths.
Killone Moonlight was four lengths back in third.
Graham Lee, who partnered the in-form winner, said: “I wasn’t confident I was going to catch Darasim until approaching the last and only then I thought I might nick it.
“My mare is tough despite not being very big. The biggest part of her is that she tries and she stayed all the way to the line.”
Racegoers were almost treated to a repeat in the Cheltenham.co.uk Novices’ Chase when Flying Spirit (14-1) looked like he might be swallowed up by Bold Bishop after the last.
But the former battled bravely to hold on by a length and a half, with Le Volfoni plugging on for third a further five lengths away.
Jamie Moore, who was in the saddle on father Gary’s winner, commented: “I was never headed and he jumped well despite slipping a couple of times on this slippery ground.
“That’s the best he has ever travelled in a race and coming to the last, I always thought he was going to win. He needs sharper tracks really.”
Bernard Llewellyn produced a shock winner in the Scarvagh House Stud PTA Juvenile Novices’ Hurdle when Barnbrook Empire defied her odds of 33-1 to beat Inchcape Rock by a length and a half.
Llewellyn said: “This was a surprise, although we always thought she was a bit special on the gallops – saying that she couldn’t win a seller on the Flat.”
