Gift horse for Webber
Connections of Kate’s Gift had their patience rewarded when the once seriously-injured gelding opened his account over fences at Leicester.
The seven-year-old suffered a fracture two and a half years ago, but showed he retained plenty of ability with victory in the John O’Gaunt Maiden Chase.
Paul Webber’s charge, a 12-1 chance, led before the last and went on to beat Minella Four Star by two lengths.
“He’s lazy and needed cheekpieces, but he’s had a lot of problems. He fractured his forearm in the field, but thankfully Walker, Glanville and Richards vets at Hook Norton mended him,” said Webber.
“They saved this horse. He had a fracture all the way down to his knee and had 12 screws put in there. When he came out of the operation all the nerves had gone in that shoulder.
“He’s been in the wilderness since he won his bumper, so we’ll keep him down in class as low as possible to get his confidence back. He jumps well and he is tough.”
Conditional Aidan Coleman took the riding honours with a 9-1 double on Ours and Latanier.
Ours (7-2) confirmed the impression he is a smart recruit over fences when completing a hat-trick in the Vale of Belvoir Handicap Chase.
Mark Rimell’s gelding was brought with a well-timed run to go on from High Jack at the final fence and win by four and a half lengths.
“I was just worried about the ground as there’s no doubt he is better on quicker ground,” said Rimell.
“The spring is the time I would really like to do business with him. It all depends whether we give him one more run or give him a break now.”
Coleman followed up on Latanier (5-4 favourite) for Venetia Williams in the Knighton Novices’ Hurdle.
The five-year-old ran his rivals ragged and hardly saw another horse as he scooted up by 12 lengths from Bugsy’s Boy despite getting weary in the closing stages.
“He settled well in front, though he can be keen. He jumped well and he handled the ground,” said Coleman.
“It’s a good confidence booster for him. He’d been beaten a couple of times over hurdles and come up against one or two too good for him. He enjoyed himself in front.”
Jeff Pearce had a rare winner over jumps when Purely By Chance made a successful debut in the Leicester Juvenile Fillies’ Novices’ Hurdle.
The 8-1 shot ploughed through the testing conditions in game fashion for Wayne Hutchinson to hold Mvuto by a length and a quarter.
“I know she was a bit one-paced on the Flat but you have to jump and stay at this game on this ground,” said the Newmarket trainer.
Towcester trainer Frank Jordan had his first winner for nearly five months when Monsieur Georges (7-1) wore down Low Delta on the run-in to take the Barkby Conditional Jockeys’ Selling Handicap Hurdle.
“I’ll pop him in more sellers, that’s his grade. I’ll see what’s coming up - it doesn’t matter if it’s over hurdles or fences,” said Jordan, who retained the gelding for 5,700 guineas.
Michael Murphy, who rode third-placed Vehari, was referred to the British Horseracing Authority for using his whip with excessive frequency as he had amassed more than 24 days of suspension in the last 12 months.
