Character shines through at Market Rasen
Character Building booked his ticket to the Cheltenham Festival with an impressive victory in the feature race of the day at Market Rasen.
John Quinn’s seven-year-old produced a great performance under Irish amateur Derek O’Connor, who put Tony McCoy to the sword in the wbx.com £25 New Account Promotion Novices’ Handicap Chase.
McCoy endeavoured to make all aboard Jonjo O’Neill’s Ice Melted, but O’Connor wisely tracked the front-running six-year-old and swept into the lead after the penultimate fence.
The 7-4 joint-favourite gained further momentum with a prodigious leap two out and breezed across the line with three and a half lengths to spare from his market rival.
“We brought Derek over because the plan is to run in the four-mile National Hunt Chase for amateur riders (at Cheltenham),” explained Peter Norris, representative for winning owner John Wright.
“He’s never run on anything better than good to soft, but I’m not sure that will be a big deal at Cheltenham. The long-term plan with him will be the Scottish National in 2008.”
The Queen’s Barbers Shop was a costly failure in the EBF/Join wbx.com Today “National Hunt” Novices’ Hurdle (Qualifier) after Unowatimeen landed a 9-1 hammer blow for favourite-backers.
Nicky Henderson’s gelding was turned over at short odds at Kempton and again found one to good in the shape of Richard Ford’s seven-year-old.
Whereas Unowatimeen pinged the last, the 1-4 favourite ploughed through the final hurdle which allowed Jason Maguire the opportunity to steer Ford’s gelding to a length-and-a-quarter success.
“He’s a big baby and he’s still physically weak, as well as mentally,” said Carrie Ford, wife of the winning trainer.
“In the long term, he would have to be a three-mile chaser in the making.”
Unowatimeen’s victory completed the second leg of a 59-1 double for the Ford team after Murphys Million made virtually every yard to win the first division of the Bet Now At wbx.com Maiden Hurdle.
The 5-1 chance stayed on in resolute style on his hurdling bow to comfortably repel the challenge of Red Square Express by six lengths.
“He’s run in two bumpers so far and the Towcester race first time out has worked out particularly well,” Ford added.
“With the greatest respect to the rest of them, it was not a race to get too carried away with.”
Dominic Elsworth was stood down for the rest of the day after he was unseated from Follingworth at the first flight.
Elsworth suffered a leg injury and was replaced by Phil Kinsella on Tender Trap in the second division of the maiden hurdle 30 minutes later, which went the way of Valiant Shadow.
Alison Thorpe’s charge (11-2) consolidated upon a pleasing debut over obstacles at Newbury by kicking clear from odds-on shot Alternator at the second-last.
A blunder from McCoy’s mount at the final obstacle rubber-stamped the outcome as Valiant Shadow plugged away for a nine-length verdict in the hands of Seamus Durack.
Loulou Nivernais bagged a fine hat-trick with a 14-length call in the wbx.com World Bet Exchange Handicap Chase.
A ready winner at Wetherby and Uttoxeter on his last two starts, Tom Dreaper was never unduly troubled in the extended two-mile-six-furlong heat and eased clear of Supreme Catch to justify 11-4 favouritism.
“He was short of confidence when he came to us but that’s not the case now,” said Lorraine Ellison, daughter of the successful handler.
“There’s a two-and-a-half-mile chase at Wetherby on the 28th and that will be the next one for him.”
