Kangaroo Court wins debut over fences at Uttoxeter

Kangaroo Court staked an early claim for the Arkle Trophy at the Cheltenham Festival by making a successful debut over fences at Uttoxeter today.

The Emma Lavelle-trained five-year-old was cut to 20-1 from 25-1 by Stan James after coming home by seven lengths from Noticeable in the Jenkinsons Caterers Novices' Chase.

The 4-7 shot took the lead from Marsam after the third-last when the complexion of the race changed with the fall of Farinelli, who was also going well at that stage.

Stan James' head of PR, Charlie McCann, said: "The five-year-old has always been held in the highest regard by Emma Lavelle but disappointed at Cheltenham in the Supreme Novices' back in March and it is possible that the track doesn't suit.

"That said, he has always looked as if he could go to the very top of the Chasing tree and he could hardly have made a better start at Uttoxeter."