Air Force set for Cheltenham strike
Air Force One flew home under Noel Fehily at Ludlow to earn a 33-1 quote with Stan James for the Brit Insurance Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in six weeks’ time.
Charlie Mann’s five-year-old made all the running in the Leebotwood Novices’ Hurdle and stretched clear over the final three flights to score by a yawning 14 lengths.
Just Smudge and Nocivo filled the minor placings but were left trailing in the winner’s wake, with supporters of the 5-6 favourite counting their winnings a long way from home.
Mann said: “He is a good horse and he always has been – he was seventh in the German St Leger and placed in Listed races.
“He was bought for the Triumph Hurdle last year, but was too weak to run and I suppose he still is weak.
“He will go straight to Cheltenham now for the Brit Insurance race and he will go chasing next year – he’s the closest thing I have to a Gold Cup horse at the moment.”
Mann and Fehily were back in the winner’s enclosure 30 minutes later after Kanad had obliged at 11-2 in the Church Stretton Handicap Hurdle.
Further Festival clues were on offer as Punjabi earned himself a 33-1 quote with William Hill (Cashmans offer 25s) for the JCB Triumph Hurdle after making an impressive debut for the Nicky Henderson team in the Bull Ring Juvenile Novices’ Hurdle.
Tony McCoy went off at a ferocious gallop aboard Scotland Yard, which set the race up for something from off the pace and Mick Fitzgerald came through exuding confidence aboard the 10-1 winner three out.
The four-year-old quickened in style on the sound surface and was not extended in beating the 8-11 favourite Junior by three and a half lengths.
Fitzgerald said: “AP has gone a right gallop and my horse has come through and done it well. He is a typical Nicky Henderson juvenile and has jumped plenty at home so he knew his job.
“He was a miler on the Flat, but has shown plenty at home so I was always confident he would stay.”
Rehearsal (7-1) made the 222-mile journey from Len Lungo’s South Scotland base worthwhile with a successful fencing bow in the Dinham Beginners’ Chase.
The Elite Racing Club-owned six-year-old had been campaigned at a decent level over timber, but looked much more at home over the larger obstacles, scoring by 11 lengths from Craven in the hands of Keith Mercer.
The jockey said: “He jumped so well that I got there earlier than I wanted to, but he has kept going strongly. He gave me some good rides over hurdles but he looks much better over fences.”
Richard Spate ended a barren spell stretching back 274 days and covering 13 rides when scoring aboard Theatre Diva in the Strokesay Mares’ Only Handicap Hurdle.
The 5lb claimer rode a race full of confidence aboard the 11-10 favourite, who carried top weight to victory in grand style to continue her in-form run.
Spate bided his time on Henry Daly’s charge and she cruised through to take over at the second-last to win hard held, with Chilly Milly three lengths adrift in second.
Daly said: “She could come back here next week with a penalty. She would have a lot of weight, though, so we will have to look at options.”
The local trainer completed a double with Paul Callaghan flying late on Martha’s Kinsman (7-2) to collect by three-quarters of a length in the His Royal Highness The Prince Of Wales Challenge Trophy.
“He came here for the good ground, but he really wants a stiff three miles at places like Towcester and Chepstow,” Daly added. “That is Paul’s first winner for me so I am really pleased for him.”
Fill The Bunker took second but his rider David England was handed a four-day suspension (February 9-11 and 13) for careless riding inside the final furlong.
Jonjo O’Neill was on the mark as McCoy drove 7-4 favourite Gun Smith out to score from 100-1 shot Marsh Court in the Wedding Receptions At Ludlow Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race.
