Coup team land Plumpton coup
Coup Royale ensured there would be little comedown for Jean Bishop after the thrill of her Cheltenham Festival winner by striking in the owner's blue and pink silks at Plumpton.
Bishop and trainer Colin Tizzard have a serious prospect in Cue Card, so impressive in last Wednesday's Weatherbys Champion Bumper, and although they will not quite have Cheltenham aspirations for Coup Royale just yet, Tizzard's jockey-son Joe believes he will make a capable chaser.
The At The Races Sky 415 Maiden Hurdle was a feasible objective for the six-year-old, who had made gradual progress in three previous starts this season and punters latched on to the form of his stable to send him off the 11-8 favourite.
Tizzard was never too far away from the leader Wizard Of Odds and had a little more speed in the home straight, coming a length and a quarter clear.
"They are great owners, they have been with us for a couple of years but I have been riding for them for about five," said Tizzard junior
"He wants a bit further and the track is on the sharp side really. He'll be better over fences next season and with a summer on his back, he could be a nice horse."
Bishop's husband Bob said: "He's a nice lad who has just had a few niggles, probably because he is still growing.
"I think hurdles annoy him, he wants to jump fences."
He added: "Cue Card is fine. He might well be put away now, although I was talking to Colin on Sunday and he said he'd only had two easy races so we'll see."
Another future chaser, Hoback Junction, claimed the At The Races Virgin 534 Novices' Hurdle under a ridiculously confident Richard Johnson.
He was slightly more nimble around the tight course than 5-2 favourite The Big Orse.
Winning trainer Lucy Wadham said: "I was very nervous seeing Richard looking so confident.
"The step up in trip has helped and he's a chaser really - he jumped superbly."
A handful were in with a chance at the last in the At The Races Novices' Handicap Chase but it was Magimix (11-2) and Philip Hide who nipped away on the run-in.
Trainer Gary Moore said: "I felt he was my best chance of the day, although I thought the ground might be soft enough for him. He kept going, though."
Oliver Sherwood may have a little grovelling to do after Sam Jones did the honours on Global Strategy (8-1) in the attheraces.com Is Free Selling Handicap Hurdle.
"My son Jack is going to be furious," said Sherwood.
"He's still at school and he wanted to take the day off to ride him, as he has been riding the horse before. But he's going on holiday and he's also riding on Wednesday, so he couldn't."
Global Strategy attracted no bids at the subsequent auction.
Even-money favourite Williandrich completed the second hat-trick of his career in the attheraces.com With Free Timeform Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle, while Deep Pockets (15-8 favourite) pulled out plenty in the Attheraces.com Be A Virtual Owner Handicap Chase.
Only two got into the At The Races Sky 415 bumper, with Venetia Williams' Gorgehous Lliege (11-4) holding off Johney Foley.
"He's Andrew Brooks' first horse in his own right," said Williams.
"He's a nice horse but a three-mile chaser really."
Dave Crosse made a visit to Plumpton for the first time since breaking his leg at the course four and a half months ago. He has not shaved since the accident and is on a fund-raising mission.
