Andreas impresses in Cheltenham prep

Andreas will now head straight to the Cheltenham Festival after an easy success in the Ian Cooper Birthday Handicap Hurdle at Ludlow.

The Paul Nicholls-trained six-year-old, who was installed as the 8-1 favourite by Coral for the Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Chase when the entries were announced this week, was never in any danger as he cruised home by 10 lengths.

Richard Barber, representing the stable, said of the 2-1 favourite: “That’s just what he needed. He jumped well and travelled well and has had a really good blow.”

Racing off a 25lb lower mark over hurdles than over fences and after a 103 days break following a wind operation, Liam Heard did not take Andreas into the lead until after the fourth-last and by the next obstacle they were well clear.

He was looking for non-existent dangers from then on as they coasted to victory.

Henry Daly, whose base overlooks the course, has his team in cracking form at the moment and Lindsay continued the good run in the Arrow Handicap Chase.

The seven-year-old who, according to Daly has a “fiery attitude”, carted jockey Mark Bradburne past the start on their way to the tapes.

But he was content to take a lead from Imperial Rocket until taking up the running four fences from home.

The 15-8 chance saw off the challenge of favourite Amarula Ridge and was always holding Harry Potter to win by one and three quarter lengths.

Daly said: “The ground was a bit too tacky for him at Newbury last time. He likes a sounder surface and that’s why we will put him away for three or four weeks now before we go again.”

The long car journey from his stable at West Witton to Ludlow was well worth it for Ferdy Murphy after Aces Four (6-1) landed the Lugg Maiden Hurdle.

Aces Four easily landed the odds by seven lengths after going into the lead three flights from home.

Murphy said: “He is a lovely horse and is a chaser in the making. That performance will certainly make the journey home seem a lot quicker.”

Fier Normand made up for his disappointing run at Huntingdon last time with an easy win in the JD & Sue Anniversary National Hunt Novices’ Hurdle.

Taking the lead approaching the third-last flight, Tony McCoy did not have to press any buttons on the 8-11 favourite for him to see off his outclassed rivals.

Quizzling (7-1), who was lucky to stay in training after an horrific accident five years ago, made it two wins out of two for Yeovil handler John Ryall in the Teme Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Chase.

Quizzling, a winner at Fontwell three weeks ago, came with a run between Joe Deane and Tribal Dancer after the last to get the verdict by half a length, with Aisjem running on to snatch third place.

Jug Of Punch (9-1) was a lucky winner of the Corve Novices’ Selling Hurdle.

Owner-trainer Simon Lewis conceded, after Elaala fell at the final flight: “We were doomed for second place.”

The latter, having his first run for Paul Blockley, was eight-lengths clear and going well until he came to grief, handing the race to Jug Of Punch.

Lewis added: “It was a very lucky winner for us but they all count.”