Helens Vision wins by 27 lengths
Helens Vision transmitted some smart bumper form to obstacles when impressively making all to land the opening race on Hennessy day at Newbury by an impressive 27 lengths for trainer Helen Lewis and jockey Paddy Merrigan.
The filly, winner over the same course and distance last season, maintained a relentless gallop in the Greyhounds Make Great Pets Novices' Hurdle and never looked like coming back to the giant Pasco, who held Pagano by a length and a half for second.
Lewis sent out six winners from her Cardiff base last season, but this is her first of the current campaign.
She said of the 7-2 winner: "She wasn't right when she ran against Turbo Linn in the Aintree bumper and I really wanted to see if she would handle the ground today.
"She's a real galloper and keeps going, while she'll probably go further. The plan now is to find another little race for her and then aim her at the mares' only race at Cheltenham."
Sir Bathwick coped best in an Allied Irish Bank (GB) Novices' Handicap Chase which became a war of attrition on the holding ground.
Brendan Powell's charge has had all sorts of problems but when it came to sheer guts he had too much for Junctiontwentyfour and No Regrets.
Following the fall of an exhausted Jim Edwards three out, it became a straight fight between the 14-1 winner and Junctiontwentyfour, with Denis O'Regan's mount grinding-out victory by 15 lengths.
Powell said: "This horse has had all sorts of problems in the past. He was riddled with cancer last year and I thought we would lose him, while today he's struck into himself during the race.
"The track didn't suit him at Sedgefield and I thought he would win last time at Exeter only for him to come home with a sore throat. The two miles and six suited him, and while he does carry his head high, that's just him."
