Attraction leads by example
Leading Attraction proved the most impressive offering on a decidedly quiet afternoon of jumping at Kempton.
Although the gelding appears to be only in the second tier of novices among champion trainer Paul Nicholls’ incredible wealth of talent, there appears hope the softly-softly approach will pay dividends in time.
Nicholls found a suitably weak contest, the intercasino.co.uk Beginners’ Chase, for him to get off the mark over regulation fences and despite one mistake at the second-last, the 4-6 favourite won pleasingly by 13 lengths under Nick Scholfield.
“We’ll keep him going for a while now as there are lots of novice chases still to come,” said Nicholls’ assistant Dan Skelton.
“He had a tendon problem and needed a year off and on his only run over hurdles he beat Flight Leader, who is pretty decent.”
Andy Turnell has nearly saddled more winners in March than for the rest of the season and his Haar (4-1) and Mark Grant held Hope Road by a neck – despite making a real hash of the final flight in the intercasino.co.uk Juvenile Maiden Hurdle.
“He’s a big, weak horse,” said Turnell. “He didn’t get very high at the last but he’ll still jump a fence one day.”
Turnell’s Kew Jumper was supported in the intercasino.co.uk Handicap Chase but it was Robert and Sally Alner’s 3-1 co-favourite Nemetan who stayed on strongest.
Richard Rowe has already exceeded his results from the last few campaigns and even one of the stable’s more enigmatic characters Mister Pink decided to do his bit for team morale.
A fair few took a hand in the intercasino.co.uk Novices’ Handicap Hurdle but it was the 10-1 shot who stayed on best, receiving the assistance of Timmy Murphy for the first time.
“He’s not ungenuine but he has a high head-carriage and when Paddy Brennan couldn’t ride I went for Timmy as he is good with an awkward one,” said Rowe.
“I knew Timmy would either get on well with him or get annoyed.
“He’s taken us over £100,000 for the season now – our best run for about four years.”
Peter Kelsall curtailed a losing run of 283 days as Richard Killoran drove out Decree Nisi (20-1) for the intercasino.co.uk Handicap Hurdle.
The Ledbury trainer reckoned the reapplication of a visor had worked the oracle.
The Big Jackpots At intercasino.co.uk Handicap Chase produced another scrabble to the line before going the way of the Gardie Grissell-trained Perange (8-1).
Alan King’s China Gold (2-1 favourite) took a while to warm to the task on his debut in the intercasino.co.uk Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race but responded to get the better of Perkin Warbeck.
“I’ve not had him long but he looks a real nice prospect for next year,” said King.
