Crick stakes claim to join King's men

Oh Crick could have booked a surprise place on Alan King’s powerful Cheltenham Festival team after completing a four-timer under Robert Thornton in the Pertemps People Development Group Handicap Hurdle at Hereford.

The 7-1 chance has been running out of his skin lately and did so once more in proving too strong for Silmi and Hue in the two-mile-one-furlong contest.

The five-year-old has entries at Cheltenham, but King will hold fire before making any firm plans for him.

He said: “He’s in at Cheltenham, but before this I honestly didn’t think he’d be good enough to go there.”

Alison Thorpe came off the cold list as Tampa Boy rewarded each-way support to trump hot favourite I Hear A Symphony in the Pertemps Spark of Brilliance ’National Hunt’ Maiden Hurdle.

Backed into 25-1 from 40s, Tampa Boy and Seamus Durack took control between the last two flights and had too much resolve for the wayward runner-up, whose steering proved a problem for his jockey in the final quarter-mile.

The success did not entirely surprise Thorpe, even though it had been 57 days since her previous winner.

The trainer said: “One or two of them were coughing a fortnight ago and I must admit I was relieved when this horse won. But I was sure he’d run well and that his price did not reflect his chance.

“He won a bumper in Ireland, but when we took him to Fakenham for better ground he didn’t get it and the faster going has made all the difference.”

Charlie Mann sent out a promising type in Vacario, who was backed down to 9-2 from 7-1 before overcoming greenness under Noel Fehily to decisively land the bumper.

Mann does very well with his German imports and he said of this four-year-old: “I bought him in Germany from Andreas Wohler to sell on. He’s out of a Group Two-winning mare and Noel says he’s one of the nicest he’s sat on.”

Mondial Jack (7-1) put up a brave performance to make most of the running and stave off all challenges in the Pertemps Employment Alliance Handicap Chase.

Formerly with Martin Pipe, the nine-year-old is now trained by David Evans and was ridden by Tony Evans (no relation).

Evans had given his charge three spins on the all-weather and said: “Those three outings gave him back his confidence to win what I thought was a bad race. They did him the world of good and he was down a long way with his mark over fences.

“He enjoyed the better ground and I think I’ll keep him to right-handed courses as he’s much happier going that way.”

There was a shock in the first division of the maiden hurdle when Quasar D’Oudairies proved too strong for the unlucky Hills Of Home and Theft.

The 33-1 shot was continuing the good form of Devon trainer Nick Williams’ horses, although Hills Of Home had to be snatched up when hampered two flights out.

Theft proved one of the heaviest-backed runners of the day but appeared to have no excuse as she failed to respond when Daryl Jacob swept by on the winner.

There was another West Country triumph when Josear, trained by Chris Down, gamely held Malakiya in the Pertemps Supporting Learning in Hereford Novices’ Chase.

Under Chris Honour, the 8-1 winner tracked Fabulous Jet and pounced on the home turn.

The Pertemps Community Novices’ Handicap Hurdle resulted in a clear-cut success for 7-2 favourite Our Jim, trained by Donald McCain, who readily held Rifleman and Something’s Up.