Lane back on right track
Lodge Lane ran below expectations at Cheltenham but he was back on song in the EBF/D M Hall Future Champions “National Hunt” Novices’ Hurdle at Perth.
The Victor Dartnall-trained 5-2 chance put up a battling performance under Jack Doyle to get the better of 6-5 favourite Tazbar by a head.
Devon-based Dartnall, saddling his fourth winner from only eight runners at the course in five seasons, said: “He has been schooled over fences and he will go chasing next season.”
However, Doyle was suspended for one day (May 8) for careless riding.
Highly-rated conditional Aidan Coleman made the most of his first visit to the course when seen to good effect on Eric’s Charm in the feature StanJamesUK.com Perth Festival Handicap Chase.
Old stager Brooklyn Breeze had shaken off Brooklyn Brownie going to the final fence in the £35,000 contest, but Coleman produced the Oliver Sherwood-trained 14-1 chance with a sustained run to collar him in the last 20 yards and win by a neck.
Coleman, gaining his 25th career success, all this season, said: “I can’t believe how well things have gone and I can’t thank Venetia (Williams), her owners and Mr Sherwood for the support they have given me.
“This is my fourth big-race winner of the season. I would love to win the conditional jockeys’ championship next season, so I will be pulling out at the stops.”
He added: “I thought we were struggling turning in when a couple went past him, but he really stuck his neck out and he is very game.”
And just for good measure Coleman doubled up for his boss as he steered the Williams-trained De Blanc to success in the StanJamesUK.com Handicap Hurdle.
Herefordshire-based Williams was also in double form having earlier struck with Coach Lane, who battled on well for Sam Thomas to get the better of Yankee Holiday in the Bill And Bunny Cadogan Memorial Handicap Chase.
Williams said: “I said to his owner after he was beaten at Ayr last week that we should either turn Coach Lane out in the field or come here.
“I am glad the rain came for him and some days he is better than others.”
De Blanc was gaining her seventh success, but first since February 2006 and Williams added: “We declared her for the chase but she missed the cut so we ran her in this and she has done it well.
“I am pleased the way things have gone for Aidan, he is a very, very talented jockey.”
Lazy Darren, owned by soccer star Jonathan Woodgate’s family, is set for a step up in class after gaining his third success from his last five outings with a hard-earned half-length success over Frank Crow in the attheraces.com Best Odds Novices’ Hurdle.
Richard McGrath sent the Chris Grant-trained four-year-old (11-10 favourite) into the lead between the last two flights and he stuck gamely to his task to hold the challenge of Frank Crow by half a length.
Grant said: “We have had a great year with him and if everything goes all right we will run him in the Swinton Hurdle (at Haydock on May 10) before giving him a break.”
Natiain made it four wins from five outings this season when landing the pointtopoint.co.uk Champion Stayers Hunters’ Chase as he pleased under good amateur Harry Haynes.
The 4-6 winner will now take his chance in the Champion Hunter Chase Final at Stratford next month, according to trainer Alistair Brown.
