Billy makes light work of heavy going

The going may have been officially heavy at Haydock Park but that certainly suited the Nigel Twiston-Davies-trained Billyandi, who landed the opening Cotebrook Novices’ Handicap Hurdle in the hands of Carl Llewellyn.

Auenmoon, who was conceding weight all round, made most of the running and was still at the head of affairs at the final flight only to be worn down on the run-in by Billyandi, who edged one and a quarter lengths clear at the line.

Twiston-Davies said of the 6-1 winner: “He needs two and a half miles really and it (two miles) turned out to be that on this ground. They went so fast so he was able to settle and though he was first off the bridle, he does stay.”