Heltornic switch pays off

Owner Steve Molloy’s decision to run Heltornic in the totepool Towton Novices’ Chase at Wetherby paid a £17,106 first dividend when the gallant mare dug deep to take the honours under Graham Lee.

After turning for home, the race had developed into a battle between Miko De Beauchene and Heltornic, with the 14-1 chance getting on top going to the final fence and sticking to her task in admirable fashion to forge three and a half lengths clear.

Winning trainer Michael Scudamore was represented by his son Peter, who admitted: “That is a nice surprise, I was for going for the four-mile handicap at Stratford, but Steve suggested we come here as there was prize money down to sixth place and he thought we ought to support races like this.

“He twisted my arm. It was his brave decision and although she will go up the ratings, she is a well-bred mare and she has got paddock value now.”

When asked if she could be an Aintree Grand National prospect, he added: “I don’t think so, but if she could go well around Cheltenham we would be delighted.”

Lee, having his first ride for the Scudamore stable, said: “She is a very tough mare and just kept on pulling out more.”

Jimmy Moffat gained his biggest success as a trainer when Chief Dan George won the Brit Insurance Novices’ Hurdle in the hands of Alan Dempsey.

In a thrilling dash to the line, the seven-year-old just got the better of Fastaffaran on the nod after three miles and a furlong.

Moffatt said: “This was my first runner in a Grade Two event, although I won a similar class race here in my days as a jockey.

“I had six rides at the Cheltenham Festival and won the County Hurdle on Home Counties for my father – Chief Dan George will run there in either the Brit Insurance Novices’ Hurdle or the Coral Cup.

“But I suppose after today the Brit (over three miles) could be the one - there is a race at Haydock on February 17, but he has had a fairly hard race today so we might give that a miss.”

Dempsey, however, picked up a two-day (February 14 and 15) suspension for using his whip with excessive frequency.