Anquetta strikes gold at Southwell
Anquetta won the opener at Southwell as National Hunt racing finally awoke from its snow-stricken slumber.
Although seven bumper heats on the all-weather Fibresand hardly represented a blockbuster draw, this fixture - the first of its kind - has emerged a white knight for embattled jumps trainers.
With National Hunt racing trapped in the freezer since Plumpton shivered into action on January 3, the British Horseracing Authority's enterprise in formulating this impromptu meeting will provide crucial exercise for a battalion of horses.
Nicky Henderson was the most immediate recipient, with Anquetta working hard to land the odds in division one of the Freezy Money At victorchandler.com Maiden Open National Hunt Flat Race.
The mount of Barry Geraghty, who was making his first appearance at Southwell, was seemingly flat to the boards turning for home, but outstayed 25-1 chance Hoback Junction to collect by one and a half lengths.
Henderson, also making his first foray to the Nottinghamshire venue, said: "I've had a bumper winner here before but this is the first all-weather runner I've had here.
"It's a great initiative to get this meeting on. The horses are doing nothing at home so we may as well get them on the track to learn something."
Of Anquetta, the 2-5 favourite, Henderson added: "He just took a bit of time to get warmed up and then he pricked his ears."
Geraghty and Henderson made a swift return to the winner's enclosure when Benartic, returning from a 265-day absence, showed a likeable attitude in division two.
Always prominent, the six-year-old was nudged into a slender advantage over the resilient Bow Badger passing the two-furlong marker.
Although that rival refused to throw in the towel, the 4-6 favourite stayed on stoutly to score by a neck.
"That looked a stronger race than division one because there was a better pace," considered the Seven Barrows handler.
"He should have been running two months ago but he went all flat on me and we had to start again.
"He should be hurdling really, but he's a lovely little horse."
Kevin Ryan's faith in Reverend Green (14-1) was vindicated by a plucky success in the Stay Warm At Victor Chandler Casino "Junior" Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race.
The four-year-old faced a seismic task on his debut in a Listed race at Cheltenham, where he patently demonstrated traits of immaturity from flag-fall.
He was an entirely different beast here, however, staying straight and true to deny Quiet Whisper, who hung badly left, by a head.
"He was too green to do himself justice first time out, but he's a lovely, laid-back horse," reported Amy Ryan, the North Yorkshire handler's daughter.
"He's worked on the all-weather before so we knew he'd go on the surface."
Prolinx (4-1) looks a horse with a relatively bright future judged by his debut triumph in the Victor Chandler Live Casino Always Open Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race.
Charlie Mann's representative belied racecourse inexperience under Noel Fehily to record a head success over the on-rushing Inner Steel.
"He pulled hard at first, but he did the job very professionally and Noel said he could win another bumper race," said Chrissie Barnard, the trainer's representative.
The race was not without incident, though, as Tom Molloy was unshipped along the home straight aboard Lombardy Boy.
Molloy later reported that his left iron had broken.
Henderson and Geraghty completed a good afternoon as 13-8 favourite Dort Tranquille got the better of a battle with Jupiter Warning by a neck.
It was hard work for the market leader in the Victor Chandler & Nottingham Forest Intermediate Open National Hunt Flat Race, although he won a shade cosily in the end.
