Old's Counting House claims win at Newbury

Jim Old’s training talents were once again on show at Newbury as he brought Counting House back from the brink to land the Racing UK For Your Pub Call 0870 351 8834 Handicap Hurdle.

While not operating on the same level as when training Collier Hill to win a Champion Hurdle 15 years ago, Old has certainly not lost his touch, as Counting House looked closer to retirement than the winner’s enclosure early this season.

The chestnut was a fair sort a few seasons ago, running well in the 2008 Pertemps Final before injury intervened later that year.

He looked a shadow of his former self on his first couple of starts since returning from a two-year absence, but was back in the groove in Berkshire.

Always travelling nicely for Rhys Flint, the 22-1 chance quickened up well after jumping the final flight to put the race to bed, scoring by eight lengths from Master Eddy.

“He was very well handicapped on his old form and I did actually think I’d got him back to his best,” said Wiltshire-based Old.

“He ran unaccountably bad in the autumn and that was in the back of my mind coming into today, as there was never any great reason for it.

“I put it down to him being very fat inside after two years off, so we put him away as he hates soft ground and brought him back for the spring.

“He’s absolutely thrived the last month and I suspect he’ll probably head for the spring meeting at Cheltenham next.”

Top-weight Bai Zhu just managed to hold on in a pulsating the Oakley Coachbuilders Novices’ Handicap Chase.

Nicky Henderson’s 11-4 market leader jumped and travelled with plenty of zest and it was the Paul Nicholls-trained River D’Or who loomed up as seemingly the main danger approaching the final fence.

But just as Bai Zhu had fought off that rival, Tim Vaughan’s Winterwood finished with a rare rattle and was just a nose behind at the line.

“Without being impolite, he wouldn’t be the fastest horse in the world, but put a fence in front of him and the whole thing comes nicely together,” said Henderson.

“He’s an amazing horse as that’s his fourth win and each time he’s only just managed to it. He’s a tough, game, three-mile chaser.”

Henderson soon went on to complete a double as Master Fiddle outclassed his rivals in the Coffee Yard “Hands And Heels” Novices’ Handicap Hurdle.

Capably handled by Jeremiah McGrath, the 9-2 joint-favourite could be called the winner a long way from home and he bounded up the straight to secure a four-length verdict over What An Oscar.

“I think there’s a huge amount to look forward to with him next year,” the trainer added.

“The trip probably helped him. There’s just a tinge of a breathing problem there and we’ll probably work on that in the summer.”

Oliver Sherwood’s Mizen Station pulled out all the stops to come out on top in an exciting finish to the Events Bar Management Maiden Hurdle.

The point-to-point winner had failed to fire on his first couple of starts under Rules and was sent off at 25-1 for this event as a result.

But ridden prominently by Leighton Aspell, the six-year-old kept responding to pressure and got the better of Bless The Wings by a neck.

“That wasn’t a surprise and if it had been three miles I would have been getting on each-way big time,” said Sherwood.

“He’s a three-mile chaser in the making and he’ll make someone a cracking chaser next year.”

There was plenty of erratic jumping in the Wise Catering Ltd Handicap Chase but Calusa Caldera (11-1) put together a decent round to open his account for the campaign.

Turko (11-8 favourite) took top honours in the Chris Beek Racing Hunters’ Chase, while the closing Floor V Davis HL1979 Handicap Hurdle went to the Peter Bowen-trained Rio Gael (12-1).