Hadrian's conquers at Ascot
Nicky Henderson introduced yet another decent-looking youngster in the Ferns Group "National Hunt" Maiden Hurdle at Ascot this afternoon.
Hadrian's Approach, winner of his only point-to-point in Ireland, went off the 11-10 favourite and it was soon between only him and Philip Hobbs' Fighting Flynn, with the rest struggling in the soft ground.
There was a length between them at the line, with Hadrian's Approach surviving a stewards inquiry over possible interference.
"That was a difficult thing to ask of a baby in that ground over two miles and six, but I'm pleased with him," said Henderson.
"He was quite buzzy when he arrived but is starting to settle down.
"He's going to be a chaser, so we won't ask much of him this season as he's still weak."
All For Free (5-2) handsomely justified warm market support in the Liberum Capital Novices' Handicap Chase.
The five-year-old is still a novice and was only running for the third time since moving from Milton Harris to Martin Keighley but jumped like a stag under Alain Cawley.
There were still a handful involved at the last but All For Free was travelling by far the best and eventually came 11 lengths clear.
"I don't think it was the best race in the world for Ascot but the way he has done it has impressed me," said Keighley.
"I thought he was struggling turning in but his stamina came into play.
"He does have a couple of entries next week and if he's all right, I may have to run him again."
It was that man Henderson again with jockey Barry Geraghty as they swooped in the Grade Two Mitie Kennel Gate Novices' Hurdle.
The 10-11 favourite Hazy Tom took them along for as long as he could before starting to struggle in the home straight, when Henderson's Molotof (2-1) and Peckhamecho took over.
Molotof made a hash of the final flight but still emerged a length and a quarter too strong for his rival.
"Barry said he could do with another half a mile," said Henderson.
"I don't know where he'll go but he kept on well as they went a good pace. I suppose better ground would suit everyone."
Trainer Charlie Longsdon said of Hazy Tom: "As we feared, he struggled in the ground. It was only because he won at Wetherby last time that we tried him in the ground but he started to paddle.
"He'll have a break until the spring and has still run a blinder."
Coral offer the winner at 20-1 for the Neptune at Cheltenham.
Geraghty was, though, hit with a two-day careless riding ban (December 30 and January 1) for causing interference in the first race.
Zaynar returned from the wilderness to run his rivals ragged in the Grade Two totepool Novices' Chase.
A Triumph Hurdle winner in 2009 for Henderson, the grey lost his way and was sent to Nick Williams in a bid to rejuvenate him.
One mistake down the back straight aside, Zaynar was virtually foot-perfect, leading throughout to finish nine lengths clear of the other 7-2 co-favourites Kumbeshwar and Frascati Park.
Jockey James Reveley said: "He's always been my favourite novice chaser in the yard and Nick and his wife Jane have done a great job of sweetening him up.
"He saw something at one down the back and nearly put the breaks on completely but he's so economical at his fences and knows just the right height to get at them."
Williams' son Chester, 14, said: "I'd imagine he'll stick in these kind of races until the Festival, wherever he ends up. That would probably be the Jewson."
Paddy Power quote 16-1 for that event.
