Harris proud of flexible Minaad
Minaad, four times a winner on the Flat in Germany, made it two out of two over hurdles when justifying 8-11 favouritism under Josh Byrne in the AJ Glassfibre Novices’ Hurdle at Market Rasen.
The four-year-old battled on well from the final flight to hold the renewed challenge of Nez Rouge by two lengths.
Winning trainer Milton Harris said: “He is a soft-ground horse really, he had to battle and he did battle.
“I think he is all right, a longer trip would suit him and I would like to see him in a better race.”
David Pipe made a fleeting visit by helicopter to Lincolnshire and returned to Somerset a happy man after Mamlook made a successful jumping debut in the Rachel Butcher Happy Birthday Juvenile Maiden Hurdle.
The 8-15 favourite went to the front from the outset and, always travelling well for Tony McCoy, passed the post with eleven lengths to spare over Chip N Pin – despite being eased down.
A winner of a Wexford maiden when trained by Kevin Prendergast, he was bought for 70,000 guineas and now carries the colours of Gerry Lowe and Peter Deal, whose Make A Stand won the 1997 Champion Hurdle.
Pipe said: “I thought he was a shorter price than he should have been as Chip N Pin had run well at Aintree.
“Hopefully he will go on to better things.”
Osako D’Airy opened his British account at the ninth attempt under a good ride from Kevin Tobin in the Racing Post “Hands And Heels” Jump Series Handicap Hurdle.
Tobin sent the Steve Gollings-trained five-year-old into the lead approaching the final flight and kept on well enough to hold the challenge of Telegonus by a neck.
Gollings said: “He has been a bit disappointing really.
“He ran well here first time out but then faltered a bit – he stopped to a walk at Folkestone but nothing came to light. He is a chasing type and he will go back over fences soon.”
Our Jasper, trained by Donald McCain jnr, made it two out of three over fences in the Victor Lucas Memorial Novices’ Hurdle.
McCain’s father, Ginger, said: “This is a most attractive horse, he is worth having around the yard just to look at him. He won at Bangor and then he was beaten at Aintree last time, but the ground was dead and holding and he may have been a bit out of his depth.”
Aleron (5-1) is a great servant to the John Quinn stable and was on the mark again with a game effort under Dougie Costello in the AJ Glassfibre Handicap Chase over an extended two miles and six furlongs.
Local trainer Charles Pogson won the concluding Oak Medical Services’ Ltd Handicap Chase with Ravenscar, who was a length and three-quarters too strong for Physical Force.
Jockey Adam Pogson, the handler’s son, said: “We have seven horses at present and we are looking forward to running Major Catch and Oscar Deal, who may go for a good race at Ascot.”
However, Pogson was suspended for two days (November 22-23) for using his whip with excessive frequency aboard the 11-2 shot.
