Shining Gale blows Warwick away
Charlie Mann will step Shining Gale back up in class after he bounced back to winning ways in the Bet totepool At All UK Racecourses Novices' Chase at Warwick.
The seven-year-old was unbeaten on his first two outings over fences, but then came to grief in the Feltham Novices' Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day.
Having failed to fire when odds-on at Southwell last time, the Charlie Mann inmate was sent off the 5-2 favourite for this event and was always travelling powerfully in the hands of Noel Fehily.
It looked as though he may have to give best to West End Rocker when losing out in the jumping stakes three from home.
But he soon came back on the bridle and got on top on the run-in to score by two and a half lengths.
Mann said: "It's a relief to get him back on track.
"Before he ran at Southwell last time we had been snowed under and I don't think he was ready.
"He had a nasty fall in the Feltham as well and he may have been thinking about that a bit.
"But he was keyed-up this time and has quickened up well after the last.
"I think there is a big race in him somewhere and he could go to Aintree now - or maybe Ayr.
"Noel thinks he want two miles and six furlongs and a race for him next year could be something like the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham."
Fehily went on to complete a double on board Oliver Sherwood's Ballygalley Bob (11-1), who secured his first success in well over a year in the toteswinger Handicap Chase.
Kim Bailey is not making any fancy plans for Valento - despite his impressive performance in the totequadpot Novices' Hurdle.
Sent off at 14-1 for what looked a tough assignment on paper, Tom Siddall's mount was strongly pressed by hot favourite Gold Award in the straight but kept responding to score by three and three-quarter lengths.
"This is the owner's first horse so it is a great way to start," said Bailey.
"It is always difficult when you have a young horse having only his second run but he is as genuine as they come and just loves jumping.
"I don't think he would be good enough for Aintree, to be honest with you, and it will be quite interesting to see what the handicapper does to him."
Lindeman got off the mark over obstacles with a hard-fought success in the toteplacepot Maiden Hurdle.
Nicky Henderson's bumper-winning mare was sent off the 4-11 market leader to make it third-time lucky over timber and travelled to the front approaching the final flight.
She did not jump the obstacle all that fluently but only had to be kept up to her work to score by a length and quarter from Boomtown Kat.
