Percussionist hits the right note
Classy Flat performer Percussionist appears to have found his niche in the winter game after leaving a disappointing hurdling campaign behind with an impressive first run over fences in the bet365 Beginners' Chase at Wetherby.
Howard Johnson purchased the 2004 Vodafone Derby fourth from last year's Horses In Training Sale but he failed to set the world alight over timber during the winter.
However, he was certainly sparked into life by the larger obstacles and looked one to follow when scoring over two miles in the hands of Paddy Brennan.
Owned by Graham Wylie, the Sadler's Wells gelding slipped into the lead four fences from home and despite pecking on landing after the last, the 5-2 shot readily scored by 19 lengths from Altay.
Ange De Villez was sent off the 2-1 favourite but Paul Nicholls' inmate made a serious of errors down the back straight and was eventually pulled up by Ruby Walsh.
Wylie said: "He never respected his hurdles and we schooled him over baby fences and he jumped awfully. But he has jumped really well over the big fences and he probably respects them more.
"He jumped well all of the way bar the last, but we will allow him one mistake. Paddy was over the moon with him. He said he jumped great and has a big engine. Hopefully this will have taught him something and it is nice to see he can jump.
"We will go carefully with him and get him to win some more races up north."
Wylie and Brennan were back in the winner's enclosure after Tidal Bay (4-6 favourite) opened his account in style when bounding clear to take the bet365.com "National Hunt" Novices' Hurdle by nine lengths.
"He just stays and gallops - he needs at least two and a half miles," said Wylie.
"He jumped well in the main and is a chaser in the making."
The soft ground proved no problem for Calatagan who ploughed through the mud to make all in the bet365 White Rose Handicap Chase.
Show Me The River, sent off the 10-11 favourite, tried to make inroads into his lead rounding the bend, but Tom Dreaper's mount was always going the best and the 13-2 chance kept on to score by three and a half lengths.
Trainer Malcolm Jefferson said: "He has got stronger and that has helped him go on the soft.
"I thought the ground and his top-weight would get him beat, but it is hard for the others to come from behind on ground like this."
All right Now M'Lad made a promising start to his career over fences when scoring under Tony McCoy in the bet365.com Beginners' Chase.
The champion jockey settled the Jonjo O'Neill-trained six-year-old at the rear of the five-runner field and sent him about his business turning for home, with the 5-4 favourite going on to beat Nine De Sivola by three and a half lengths.
O'Neill said: "AP said it was hard work on the ground but you have to be pleased and he jumped away grand.
"It was hard work for him first time out but he will make a nice three-mile chaser in time."
William Kennedy advertised his skills as an up-and-coming rider when driving Rothbury home in the bet365 Conditional Jockeys' Novices' Handicap Hurdle.
The win was his 10th of the season and was landed in dramatic style, with his mount reeling in long-time leader El Andaluz in the final strides of the two-mile-seven-furlong contest.
El Andaluz rallied after being challenged though, and it was only after the judge called a photo-finish that Kennedy's mount was awarded the race by short head.
Winning trainer Alistair Charlton said of the 9-1 winner: "He battled well and he likes the soft ground.
"He stays but that is about as far as he wants to go."
The stewards were less impressed by Kennedy's riding and banned him for four days (November 7-10) for using his whip with excessive frequency and in the incorrect place.
El Andaluz's rider, Andrew Glassonbury, was also found guilty of the same offences in addition to failing to give his mount time to respond and was suspended for five days (November 7-11).
A second course and distance success came the way of Through The Rye (11-4), who followed up his win from February 2004 when taking the bet365.com Handicap Hurdle by 16 lengths from Haditovski.
Suspect stayer Bob's Buster (40-1) hosed up over three miles and a furlong for trainer Bob Johnson and his son and jockey Kenny with a shock 11-length victory in the bet365 Handicap Chase.
