Tharaya springs surprise at Uttoxeter

Uttoxeter's huge Midlands National day crowd were stunned by a 28-1 surprise package in the totejackpot Novices' Handicap Hurdle this afternoon as Tharaya powered clear of her rivals for in-form trainer and jockey Claire Dyson and Tommy Phelan.

There was a big on-course plunge on Tony McCoy's mount Speed Dating, who went off 6-4, but the favourite was in trouble early in the home straight as Beau Lake tried to steal a march and went two lengths clear.

However, Phelan was alert to the move and reeled-in the leader two flights out before gradually pulling nine lengths clear, with Speed Dating out of the money.

"That's eight winners and it's our best season," said Dyson. "We were pleased to be able to take advantage of the better ground in the first race.

"This mare's been working well and is a lovely prospect for novice chases after the May 1 deadline. The plan was to try and get a novice handicap under her belt before then."

Colin Tizzard consolidated his good record with very few runners here when sending out Golden Chieftain to land the totescoop 6 Handicap Hurdle in the hands of his son, Joe.

Tizzard, whose Stan James Supreme Novices' Hurdle fourth Cue Card cantered this morning, plans to aim both his stable star and Golden Chieftain at Aintree targets next month.

The winning jockey displayed abundant confidence in bringing the 9-1 winner home six lengths clear of Basford Bob and afterwards Colin Tizzard said: "This fellow is without doubt one of the best-looking horses I've ever seen, let alone trained.

"He had the virus on him when he ran poorly at Cheltenham, but the real horse turned up today. The slight worry was the drying ground because his form has been in the heavy.

"There's a race for him at Aintree and if it's good to soft or softer he'll go there."

Of Cue Card, Tizzard forwarded the view that his charge was "over-hyped".

He added: "We rode him out yesterday and he had a canter this morning.

"He's in lovely form. It will be interesting to see how he gets on in the two-and-a-half-mile race at Aintree, but looking back at Cheltenham there was so much hype about him for what was a very, very hot race.

"I'm half-wishing we'd had a run at the end of January. I'm not saying he wasn't ready, but it will be interesting to see what he does at Aintree.

"He's come out of the race really well."