Celestial returns to hurdling ranks
Paul Nicholls called time on Celestial Halo’s novice chasing adventure after the top-class hurdler again proved a disappointment over fences at Newbury.
Nicholls maintains the 2009 Champion Hurdle runner-up jumps soundly home and wrote off his fall at Exeter last month as a minor aberration, but the Fuller’s London Pride Novices’ Chase revealed more glaring concerns.
Celestial Halo’s speed salvaged third but he was comfortably beaten by Cois Farraig, who was strengthening Paul Webber’s hand in this division following the impressive recent success of Time For Rupert.
The two-and-a-half-mile Grade Two also proved the undoing of Nicky Henderson’s 10-11 favourite Spirit River, who crashed out six from home, while Celestial Halo became increasingly hesitant and ploughed right through the third-last.
Cois Farraig (10-1), third in a strong heat at Ascot last month, was always prominent and jumped professionally under Dominic Elsworth, evading the belated challenge of On Borrowed Wings to win by two and three-quarter lengths.
Nicholls said: “The open ditch finished him and Noel Fehily said he was going into the fences all right, but then backing off.
“He schools really well but he just didn’t like it. He’ll go back hurdling now and there are plenty of races (champion staying hurdler) Big Buck’s won’t run in.”
Webber said: “He has always been a very natural jumper and we’ll have to make a new plan for him now – I thought we would be off to another beginners’ chase after this!
“Time For Rupert will have to wake up now!”
It was a sickening day for Fehily, who was taken to hospital with a wrist injury after falling from Rivaliste in the Sportingbet.com Handicap Chase.
This event, for the Jim Joel Memorial Trophy, started the celebrations for Nicky Henderson, who pronounced Spirit River to be unhurt after his tumble.
Tony McCoy guided Henderson’s Aigle D’Or (13-2) to a first success over fences in this event before teaming up in the same JP McManus silks for an arresting victory on 13-8 favourite Kid Cassidy in the Sir Charles Clore V CIR ChD 1984 “National Hunt” Maiden Hurdle.
Starting off with Aigle D’Or, Henderson said: “He is not the biggest horse in the world but his jumping has been much sharper this autumn. A stiff two miles suits him.
“(Kid Cassidy) has always been nice, and the jockey was suitably impressed.”
The latter was offered at 20-1 by totesport for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.
Alan King and Wayne Hutchinson were another trainer and jockey to combine for a brace, starting off with an interesting prospect in the Q Associates Juvenile Hurdle.
King is usually a dab hand with his youngsters and Smad Place (8-1), who was second on his most recent start at a minor course in France, ground down Nicholls’ 1-4 favourite Dolatulo on the unforgiving home straight to finish 27 lengths clear.
“I’m a bit surprised – I thought I was starting to scrape the barrel with my juveniles but we’re back in it now,” said King.
“He’s more of a Franchoek type – he hasn’t the speed of a Mille Chief, a Katchit or a Penzance – and I’d say the Finale at Chepstow is the obvious next stop.”
William Hill were most generous among attending bookmakers, quoting 16s for the Triumph Hurdle.
Little George (7-1), whose name is an oxymoron, then swept home late to pick up a rapidly-changing Sanderson Weatherall Barbara E Birthday Novices’ Handicap Chase.
“They said he was small when he came to me – I don’t think he has ever been small!” joked King.
“Fences have been the making of him, as he never jumped his hurdles well. He settled well and wants two and a half really.”
Barafundle acquitted himself well when second to handicap ’good thing’ Grands Crus in a valuable race at Haydock last weekend and he got his reward in the sportingbet.com Handicap Hurdle.
The burly 2-1 favourite could be seen lobbing along under Alan O’Keeffe from some way out but he was not short of opponents and had to fight off Miss Overdrive, Mostly Bob and Galaxy Rock to eventually pull seven lengths clear.
It was another big winner for the emerging Jennie Candlish, who said: “I was worried about today as I thought it was a big ask and mentally he’s still catching up.
“He’ll have a break until after Christmas now.”
