Buck's spoils party for Williams
It was a day of slightly mixed results for trainer Nick Williams at Newbury yesterday as victory for Reve De Sivola was followed by stablemate Diamond Harry being put in his place by Big Buck’s.
Diamond Harry was the winner of the Racing UK Free Today On Sky 432 Challow Novices’ Hurdle 12 months ago and Reve De Sivola carries the same colours of the Paul Duffy Diamond Partnership.
Daryl Jacob had claimed an easy Grade One aboard Williams’ Me Voici at Chepstow on Monday but this one was not so simple as the 15-8 shot only caught Restless Harry (40-1) close home.
Duffy said: “We quietly fancied him but you never quite know what you are up against.
“The new Neptune Investment Novices’ Hurdle (formerly the Ballymore) at the Cheltenham Festival is the next one we are thinking about, and I’m not sure if he’d run again first.”
Diamond Harry was sent off at 11-4 against reigning Ladbrokes World Hurdle champion Big Buck’s in the Racing UK On Virgin 536 Long Walk Hurdle, rescheduled from Ascot.
But although Big Buck’s (1-2 favourite) looked in trouble at the top of the straight, he kept finding for Ruby Walsh and finished three and a half lengths clear of Karabak, with Diamond Harry back in third.
Trainer Paul Nicholls said: “He looks at the moment bomb-proof in that division, doesn’t he?
“He’d go for the Cleeve now, but I wouldn’t run him if it was really bad ground, he’d go straight to Cheltenham.
“I was worried it was going to turn into a tactical nightmare, but he just keeps so much in the locker and just does enough.”
Alan King was heartened by Karabak while of Diamond Harry, Williams said: “The official handicapper has got it spot-on and we are going to have to consider the RSA Chase route now.”
Nicky Henderson’s Quantitativeeasing (2-5 favourite) was a very comfortable winner of the Lawrence Equine Support Heroes Introductory Hurdle and also has the Neptune Investment as a serious option.
Tony McCoy later made it two in last-gasp style aboard Doctor Pat (9-4 favourite) in the totepool Support Heroes Novices’ Handicap Chase.
Carruthers (5-4 favourite) returned to form in the Bathwick Tyres Mandarin Graduation Chase, trainer Mark Bradstock reporting: “It was a shame about missing the Hennessy, he had a dirty scope and it took him a while to come back.
“He might go for a handicap next but will be entered for the Gold Cup, where Kauto Star and Denman will be difficult.”
Nicholls’ Take The Breeze (15-8) left some decent rivals toiling as he came a distance clear in the Bathwick Tyres Support Heroes Novices’ Chase. The trainer may now consider the Irish Arkle.
Orzare (7-1) made a willing debut for Gary Moore in the Happy Birthday Laura From Bathwick Tyres Juvenile Novices’ Hurdle while Mizzurka (7-1) mastered Easton Clump in the North Farm Stud Support Heroes bumper.
