Welcome win for Sherwood

Oliver Sherwood breathed a sigh of relief when Brumous gave him his first winner for six weeks with victory at Leicester.

The Upper Lambourn trainer has had a lean spell since Brumous struck at Folkestone in mid-December and it was the six-year-old who came to the rescue by doing the business again.

Leading after the third-last flight in the hands of Leighton Aspell, the 100-30 shot held the challenge of Major Catch to take the gg.com Novices’ Hurdle by one and a half lengths.

“It’s always a worry when you’re not having winners and we had all the horses tested,” said Sherwood.

“They’ve not been running badly, we’ve had thirds and fourths, but on this ground you have to be 110 per cent right not 95 per cent.

“The ground the last three weeks has been desperate as all trainers and jockeys will tell you.

“We’ve given him a break and it’s been an experimental year for him. He’s a chaser in the making so we’ve not run him a lot on purpose.

“Where we go next I don’t know. I’ll give him an entry in the Brit Insurance Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham but I think that will be a year too soon. He will be even more suited by three miles.”