Welsh National aim for Bob

Bob Bob Bobbin fired a warning shot for next season’s Coral Welsh National when opening his account over fences in the Letherby & Christopher Beginners’ Chase at Chepstow.

Trainer Colin Tizzard views Bob Bob Bobbin as an ideal type for the biggest race run at the track, and it is easy to see why after the 11-10 favourite disposed of his rivals with a fine front-running exhibition of jumping.

The grey, under Tizzard’s son Joe, was always travelling best and scored unchallenged by 15 lengths from Squires Lane, with Woodlands Genpower a further 11 lengths away.

Tizzard senior revealed that a lot of work has been put into Bob Bob Bobbin on the schooling ground, where Rupert Nuttall has been instrumental.

He said: “Rupert has been down on six mornings to talk things through with Joe and has given a lot of input which was rewarded today.

“Rupert won the Whitbread on Harwell Lad and knows a thing or two about getting the best out of a novice.

“This is a big, awkward horse who needs to get it right but he did it as I expected he would and he may well come back here for a three-miler in 10 days’ time.

“Looking ahead, I’ve set his sights on next season’s Welsh National as I know that three and three quarter miles around here on heavy ground would bring out the best in him.”

Richard Johnson enjoyed the rare pleasure of nipping up Tony McCoy’s inner in the final 100 yards of the Letherby & Christopher Handicap Chase to take the spoils on the 14-year-old Advance East.

This was the perfect ending for the veteran’s career as trainer Martin Evans announced the gelding is to be retired following his length success over Jupon Vert.

Evans said: “I’ve laid him out for this. When I booked Richard, I thought that might snooker the price and I couldn’t believe he went off at 10-1.

“I claimed him for only 3,000 guineas five years ago and, after this, I shall pension him off as I don’t want to run him in a seller.”

McCoy was also in the winner’s enclosure when guiding Dennick to success in the Letheby & Christopher Juvenile Novices’ Claiming Hurdle.

Victory was assisted by an awkward jump by Inchcape Rock at the final flight, with McCoy throwing everything at Patrick Haslam’s gelding to hang on by a short head.

Owner Glynn Browne said: “I thought the weight (12st) would kill him and this is the softest ground he’s ever run in, but he did jump better than he has before.”

Gruelling conditions ensured only the dour stayers completed the course in the opener and it was Ballyshan who saw out the three-mile trip best of all.

Carl Llewellyn’s mount went off the 5-2 favourite for the first division of the Letherby & Christopher Maiden Hurdle and he kept on for a seven-length success from Kildonnan.

The Nigel Twiston-Davies-trained winner had been placed in all his three previous outings under Rules and showed a liking for soft ground when finishing second on his most recent start at Wetherby.

Paul Nicholls saddled a fancied runner in the shape of Alformasi but Ruby Walsh reported the gelding was unsuited by the ground after his mount had weakened disappointingly.

However, the pair went on to claim division two with former point-to-pointer Teeton Babysham.

The 4-1 winner looked to be going a shade better than Billesey when the latter fell upsides at the second-last, leaving Teeton Babysham to come home 28-lengths ahead of Seeador.

Nicholls bought the six-year-old for 26,000 guineas after he won between the flags last March and may now give him one more outing over hurdles before switching his attention to fences.

Nicholls said: “He’s basically a chaser for next season although I shall probably give him one more run over hurdles. Ruby said he’s as green a horse as he’s ridden in a long time.”

Matt Sheppard moved onto the nine-winner mark, one off equalling his best previous tally, when Precious Bane (6-1) took the Weatherbys Bank Handicap Chase by a length and a quarter.

Sheppard said: “He’s a real soft ground horse who goes best fresh and, while it would be tempting to run him again quickly, we will just have to wait.”

Richard Johnson completed a double when the well-backed Bally Bolshoi (7-2) proved nine-lengths too strong for Methodical in the closing Letherby & Christopher Mares’ Only Handicap Hurdle.