Winning run continues for Johnson and Wylie

Fresh from their tremendous Grade One double at Cheltenham, trainer Howard Johnson and owner Graham Wylie lowered their sights at Wetherby.

But they all count and Nosferatu gained his first success when showing the way home under Denis O’Regan in the JCT600-Chrysler-Jeep-Dodge Novices’ Hurdle.

The five-year-old was 2-9 to make it third time lucky and he made all the running to open his account at the third attempt in the extended three-mile test.

Johnson had Tidal Bay and Inglis Drever primed to perfection to win the Arkle Trophy and World Hurdle respectively, the pair providing O’Regan with his first Cheltenham Festival successes.

Nosferatu may run on the Flat during the summer and Wylie said: “We bought him and Whispering Death with the plan that if they did not really make it over hurdles they could go on the Flat and perhaps have a crack at the Northumberland Plate at Newcastle.

“I have a consistent record in the race – my first runner finished last, the second finished last and the third finished second-last!”

Ann Hamilton, who is based at Capheaton in the Tyne Valley, has Silver Sedge in cracking form and the grey put up another fine display of jumping under Paddy Aspell on his way to landing the totesport betXtra Handicap in game fashion, passing the post with three-quarters of a length to spare over Snoopy Loopy.

The 7-1 winner carries the colours of Hamilton’s husband Ian, who said: “He goes on any ground but when they put him up 6lb for winning at Newcastle I thought ’how can he win today’ but that man (the handicapper) is always right!

“We have six in training at present including two pointers and we always buy our horses off Howard Johnson, we grew up on adjoining farms.”

David Bridgwater saddled his first winner on the course when Pagan Sword, partnered by Warren Marston, landed the Lord Rimmer Memorial Maiden Hurdle at odds of 7-1.

The trainer said: “He wants this ground (fast) so he will be a nice horse for the summer. He is not ungenuine, but he could be better if he wanted to.”

Sue Bradburne and her son Mark teamed up to take the totesport 0800 221 221 Handicap Hurdle with 15-2 chance Stainley and the former said: “We were not worried about the fast ground for him, but he is better with a bit of cut.

“It is really good to see him back.”

Brave Rebellion (85-40) unseated his rider last time but he put in a clear round in the totesport.com Novices’ Chase and the Keith Reveley-trained nine-year-old ran out a neck winner of the two-and-a-half-mile test in the hands of Philip Kinsella.