Our Vic back to winning ways
Our Vic was back in the winner's enclosure for the first time in 18 months after a thrilling success in the totesport.com Chase at Warwick today.
The 11-year-old - winner of seven Graded races during his high-class jumping career - showed he had lost none of his enthusiasm as he battled back in the home straight for Timmy Murphy after being the first under pressure.
Robert and Sally Alner's gallant mare Miss Mitch had held Our Vic (3-1) and Don't Push It at bay until the last fence when all three were in the air together.
The 13-8 favourite Don't Push It was the first to crack after landing awkwardly and then Our Vic powered away from Miss Mitch.
Our Vic is entered the Boylesports.com Gold Cup next Saturday at Cheltenham, for which he is now a 16-1 chance from 20-1 with Paddy Power.
Gerry Supple, representing the David Pipe stable, said: "David will talk over the race with David Johnson (owner) before we make any firm decision.
"But today was the plan and I think it is great initiative from Warwick racecourse and the race planners to put on a race like this. Timmy was happy to take a lead early on and then quickened up.
"Three miles on a flat track really suits him."
The Pipe team were again in the winner's enclosure after the Bigger Win Only Odds at totesport.com Standard Open National Hunt Flat race when Chartreux (7-1) out-battled favourite Anquetta.
Henry Daly was also in double form courtesy of My Moment and Sandynow.
My Moment put in a brilliant spell of jumping to floor odds-on favourite Copper Bleu in the Bet totepool On Today's Irish Racing Beginners' Chase - and ease trainer Daly's fears about the ground.
The going was a concern for the Shropshire handler and he said after the 6-1 chance had won by two and three-quarter lengths: "He would prefer better ground but although it is wet, it is not holding.
"He has the classic look of a chaser and we always knew he would improve with a fence in front of him.
"He ran well when he made his debut at Huntingdon and he jumped even better today."
Sandynow (13-2) landed the Best Odds Guaranteed At totesport.com Maiden Hurdle, with the former Irish point-to-point winner involved in a tussle with Divy and Ballycracken before getting the better of his rivals.
Daly said: "He still has a lot to learn as he was running about a bit and was very careful at some of his hurdles.
"It is race-craft that he really needs and he will jump a fence in time."
JP McManus was at the course to see his three horses in the race - Gibbonsgrove and Signatory from the Jonjo O'Neill stable and Aigle D'Or from Nicky Henderson - but they failed to reach the frame.
Daly also revealed that his star long-distance hurdler Mighty Man could well make his debut over fences at Hereford next Sunday.
Daly ran out of time in getting him ready for the Ascot Hurdle a couple of weeks ago and hinted then that he could be going over fences.
O'Neill was on target with Victory Surge in the Bet totepool At totesport.com Handicap Hurdle, with the 9-1 chance obliging in the hands of Tony McCoy.
It looked tough going for the runners as they turned for home with outsider Midnight Spirit leading a quartet that had broken clear.
But the 22-1 chance was soon treading water as Victory Surge lived up to his name to win by four lengths over Anay Turge with Midnight Spirit back in third place.
Victory Surge was pulled up last time at Worcester and O'Neill admitted: "You are always worried whether they will go through the ground but his run at Worcester was too bad to be true."
Victory Surge is entered again at Doncaster on Friday but O'Neill said: "That was just a precaution if case this meeting was called off."
A last-flight blunder cost odds-on favourite Screaming Brave a second successive success in the Bet On toteplacepot At totesport.com Juvenile Hurdle.
It looked as though Sheena West's three-year-old had the race in safe-keeping when challenger Corredor Sun was first under pressure turning for home.
But Screaming Brave hit the last flight and that gave Nigel Twiston-Davies' charge a second chance and he went on to win by two and three-quarter lengths.
Twiston-Davies said: "The favourite's mistake at the last clearly helped us but he is a horse that if you keep driving with him, then he will respond."
Julian Smith gained his first win of the season when the tenacious Fine By Me battled back in the last 50 yards to overhaul Tarquinius in the totesport 0800 221 221 Handicap Chase after a determined ride by 3lb claimer Gerald Tumelty.
Smith said: "We have been knocking on the door in the last few weeks and I knew we had him as fit as we could have."
A change of tactics worked for Russian Flag in the Text Your totesport Bet To 60021 Handicap Chase when Neil King's charge came with a late run to land the spoils from Amble Forge by one and quarter lengths.
King, who is based in Newmarket, said: "He was very keen last time so we decided to hold on to him today and he did settle better."
