Tag Archive for: Newcastle

Egan shines on Salamanca in Easter Classic

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David Egan got his fractions spot on in front as Salamanca made most of the running to win the BetUK All-Weather Easter Classic Middle Distance Handicap at Newcastle.

Egan employed similar tactics 12 months ago to win on Elegant Man and this time teamed up with trainer Jane Chapple-Hyam in the colours of Peter Harris.

The four-year-old cost 335,000 guineas but his pedigree backs it up being by Sea The Stars out of Awesometank, a smart filly for William Haggas who finished second in the Beverly D. Stakes.

Old Harrovian (white face) got going late but could not catch the winner
Old Harrovian (white face) got going late but could not catch the winner (Richard Sellers/PA)

Lightly raced, the 14-1 chance was having just his sixth start – it would have been one more but he took part in a void race at Chelmsford when the starting stalls failed to be removed from the track.

Penzance, Glen Buck and Charlotte’s Web were all close enough if good enough, but it was the favourite Old Harrovian who threw down the final challenge.

Oisin Murphy looked confident two furlongs from home but still had several lengths to make up.

Andrew Balding’s runner soon changed gear and was catching hand over fist, but the line came too soon and he failed by a neck, with a short head back to Charlotte’s Web.

Chapple-Hyam said: “It was well mapped out to come here for the championship and when you get a wide draw your six months of planning looks like it’s all down the gurgler, as I said to Mr Harris before the race.

“It was an excellent ride, he clocked it properly in his head. We’re thrilled we’ve seen the horse that we believed in and how he’s trained at home. He’s a good horse.”

Of Harris, Chapple-Hyam added: “He never interferes, he’s solid as you like, he’s a great sounding board and I appreciate his support.”

Former trainer Harris said: “I enjoy most being on the gallops, that is the chief joy and this is the icing on the cake.”

Assistant trainer Anna Lisa Balding said of Old Harrovian: “What a little star – he has run a hell of a race.

“He is a very difficult ride; you have to try to settle him and, because of where he was drawn (13), he had to sit right back, a long way off the pace. They have gone a good pace for the first two furlongs and then slowed it down, so got a bit keen and battled with Oisin, but he has flown home and I am sure he has a big one in him.”

Heavenly Heather springs 200-1 shock at Newcastle

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Tracy Waggott’s Heavenly Heather caused a 200-1 sensation on All-Weather Finals Day at Newcastle when winning the BetMGM Fillies’ And Mares’ Championships Handicap.

Racing from 19lb out of the handicap, taking into account jockey Amie Waugh’s 3lb claim, Heavenly Heather faced what looked an impossible task on paper

But she belied her odds to become the 12th horse since the turn of the century to strike at 200-1 in Britain. The longest-priced winner in UK history was 250-1 Equinoctial at Kelso in November 1990.

A beaming smile from winning rider Amie Waugh
A beaming smile from winning rider Amie Waugh (Richard Sellers/PA)

Heavenly Heather had failed to win in her five previous outings, but Waugh made great use of her draw in stall 14, sticking to the favoured rail in winning by half a length from Aramis Grey.

Coral’s John Hill said: “Heavenly Heather is one of the biggest priced winners in British horse racing history. Remarkably, we took just over 400 bets on the horse, so it has turned out to be a Good Friday for those punters today.”

The winner was named after the late mother of part-owner Chris Rain, who said: “My mum, Heather, passed away a year ago and she named this horse before she died. We was not expecting this – we would have been happy with sixth!”

Spennymoor-based Waggott said: “Marvellous, I can’t believe it. She’s always been a good horse at home, but she’s heavy topped and heavy framed and takes all the work you can give her.

“When I entered I said it was a £750 entry fee but I’m sure she’ll be in the first six. I thought if you took the top two out it’s just like a basic Class Four handicap.

“She was green and backward and took a while to get used to racing. She’s a chestnut filly and her own woman, but I knew there was improvement in her.

“It was so exciting because we didn’t really expect it, but I did think she could be in the first six.”

Berkshire Whisper sparks Royal Ascot dreams

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Berkshire Whisper provided Andrew Balding with another victory in the BetMGM All-Weather 3 Year Old Championships Handicap at Newcastle.

The Dark Angel colt had only made his debut in January and Balding managed to get two further qualifying runs into him, which he won.

Running off a mark of 89, he looks a good bit ahead of the handicapper based on this clear-cut success under Oisin Murphy.

Sent off the 9-2 favourite in what looked a wide-open affair on paper, Murphy kept things simple and was never far from the pace, kicking for home a furlong out to win by a length and a quarter from Master Technician.

Murphy and Balding combined to win with Fire Demon 12 months ago, the first year the race was run as a handicap.

Owner Paul Spickett said: “That was brilliant, Oisin gave him a peach of a ride – that was class.

“We didn’t come here for the weather, let’s put it that way. He’s been a bit green, but he’s been doing well and the last time we brought him up here was just to see whether he was good on the course.

“I think he’s got a lot to give. I’ll have to get the top hat and tails brushed off and see where we go, maybe a Commonwealth Cup, who knows? We might give him another run beforehand, just to be sure as we don’t want to make ourselves look stupid, but I think we’ll be there.

“Andrew will know what to do, I have faith in him.”

Storm Star and Jason Watson won well
Storm Star and Jason Watson won well (Richard Sellers/PA)

The bang-in-form Balding made it a double on the day when Storm Star (5-2 favourite) landed a course and distance hat-trick in the BetMGM All-Weather Championships Mile Handicap.

Ridden twice to victory by the now-retired Hayley Turner at the turn of the year, Jason Watson was on board on this occasion.

Balding’s wife, Anna Lisa, said: “We’re absolutely delighted, what a little star he is. He’s a huge favourite of everyone’s at home and obviously having a winner like this for Jeff (Smith, owner) is fantastic.

“He is in the Lockinge. At this time of year it isn’t quite as strong as it looks and it was a bit of a ‘let’s put him in and see’ situation, but now I think Jeff and Andrew might have to have a chat about it.”

Glittering Legend floors Bowmark in Burradon Stakes

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Glittering Legend emulated his half-brother Megallan by winning the BetMGM Burradon Stakes at Newcastle.

Only five went to post for the Listed race over a mile, but all brought winning form into it. James Fanshawe’s Glittering Legend (9-2) looked the most exposed of them all, however, having had five runs. But he put that experience to very good use.

With Irish raider Michael Scofield setting the pace, Daniel Muscutt was content to get a nice lead on Glittering Legend, with Kieran Shoemark dropping John and Thady Gosden’s once-raced 6-4 favourite Bowmark at the rear.

As the pace quickened there were two going noticeably better than the rest, but as Shoemark made his challenge down the middle of the track, Muscutt got a great split near the rail before hitting the front with half a furlong to run.

Bowmark, who hung a little to his left, stuck to his task but went down by a neck.

Fanshawe said: “I wouldn’t have run him as early as we did as he still hasn’t come in his coat yet, but sometimes geldings are a little bit like that.

“He’s really tough, he’s by Too Darn Hot who is doing incredibly well and he’s a half-brother to a good horse (Megallan). We always liked him, he’s hardy and keeps improving.

“I’m not sure what the plan will be now because in a race like today’s you never quite know what you’re taking on. We’ll go back and have a look at it.

“Unfortunately geldings can’t get into a lot of Royal Ascot races and it depends when we step him up to a mile and a quarter.”

Shoemark said of Bowmark: “I am thrilled with him. He has only won a novice before this. He has a bright future.”

Co-trainer Thady Gosden said: “The winner is a nice horse, he showed good form and won well at the back-end of March, so that was a good run from Bowmark.”

Asked if the Dante at York could be a possibility, Gosden added: “There is stamina on the dam side. Bowmark is by Kingman and, as you saw there, he has a real turn of foot. They didn’t look like they went an overly quick gallop early on and he picked up readily to hit the front. The Dante is definitely an option.”

Fanshawe and Muscutt doubled up in the BetUK All-Weather Championships Marathon Handicap with Wonder Legend running out the most impressive winner of the day.

Dropped out by Muscutt as Oisin Murphy set a strong pace on Plage De Havre, he gradually moved into contention.

It was all change up front suggesting the pace was too hot as Wonder Legend (4-1) kicked clear to win by four and a half lengths from Tribal Star.

The winner was cut to 6-1 from 12s by Coral for the Chester Cup.

Muscutt said: “They’ve done a good job with this horse at home because he was going the wrong way but they’ve tinkered with his regime and it’s transformed him.

“His confidence has gone up racing through the winter on the all-weather. He’s bred to be a good horse and as a young three-year-old he looked like being good.

“He’s a really comfortable ride over these extended trips and he has a change of gear.”

Marathon stop on Melbourne road for Roaring Legend

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Hugo Palmer is dreaming of a Melbourne Cup tilt with Roaring Legend, as his staying star bids for his fourth win on the bounce in the BetUK All-Weather Championships Marathon Handicap.

The Manor House handler had intended on taking the five-year-old to Meydan for the Dubai Gold Cup after his most recent win, but instead the route to Flemington takes him to Newcastle for Good Friday’s valuable all-weather action.

Palmer said: “We were really disappointed he didn’t get into the Dubai Gold Cup. I just felt having won three races the way he had, and the race didn’t fill, it was disappointing as I feel he could have been really competitive there.

“We’re dreaming that he’s a Melbourne Cup horse, so the hope is that he can win at Newcastle, but winning handicaps off marks in the 100s is a tricky thing to do.”

Roaring Legend is unbeaten in three starts since joining Palmer from a spell jumping with Olly Murphy, winning those events by a total of 11 and a half lengths.

“We haven’t had him very long and he obviously like the jumping game, but he’s won at Wolverhampton, Newcastle and Lingfield for us, so I think he can cope with anything,” continued Palmer.

Roaring Legend in action at Lingfield
Roaring Legend in action at Lingfield (Adam Davy/PA)

“We’ll see how Newcastle goes but the plan would be, if it goes well, he could go to Chester for the Ormonde Stakes, or if it’s very soft there we’ll wait for the Yorkshire Cup.

“He’s got to win a Listed race or finish in the first three in a Group race over a mile and a half or further to pass the ballot for Melbourne, so we’ll see how we get on.”

Michael Bell’s Duke Of Oxford is another to arrive at Gosforth Park on a winning run and has been held back for this since winning back-to-back races at Kempton before the turn of the year.

Second to George Scott’s subsequent German St Leger winner Prydwen in this race last year, Duke Of Oxford also finished on the podium in the Northumberland Plate and has track form in his favour.

“He was runner-up last year and the horse who beat him went on to achieve better things,” said Bell.

“He’s also run well at Newcastle in the Northumberland Plate and he’s been aimed at this race since winning the London Series final at Kempton in December. We gave him a nice break after that but he’s come back in and he’s ready to go.

“I hope he’s not at the ceiling of his ability and he will need to improve again, but we know he likes the track, we know he’s in good form and we’re hopeful of a good run.”

James Ferguson’s Wonder Legend got the better of Andrew Balding’s Plage De Havre when they met at Wolverhampton recently with both proving models of consistency of late, while the David O’Meara-trained Heathen and Adrian McGuinness’ Irish raider Tribal Star are other notable names amongst a field of 14.

Varian anticipating Classic performance from Glen Buck

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Roger Varian is backing the hat-trick-seeking Glen Buck to land a telling blow in the BetUK All-Weather Easter Classic at Newcastle on Good Friday.

Although Glen Buck thrived over a mile and a half when excelling at Southwell in the early stages of 2025, the Carlsburg Stables handler has no qualms about dropping back in distance for one of the feature events on All-Weather Championship Finals Day.

“This has been his target for a while and hopefully he is ready to run a big race,” said Varian.

“We know he stays a mile and a half, but I think we might get away with the drop back in trip at Newcastle. It is a stiff track and you have to get the trip well, plus I think he is adaptable enough.”

Glen Buck claimed the scalp of Andrew Balding’s Old Harrovian on his penultimate start, with the six-year-old franking the form when scoring over course and distance on his next outing.

He was handed a hefty rise ahead of his rematch with the Varian entrant and Balding said: “He won very well at the trials meeting, but the handicapper had his say and it will be interesting to see if he can defy a 9lb rise. We think we have him in good shape.”

Mick Appleby’s Penzance and Simon and Ed Crisford’s Charlotte’s Web are other track-and-trip scorers amongst the field, with the latter attempting to regain the winning thread having seen her four-race winning run ended when beaten a neck in the AWC Middle Distance Trial at Lingfield.

Hooking was third in this last season and represents the French team of trainer Philippe Decouz and World Cup-winning owner Antoine Griezmann.

Also in the mix is James Tate’s Smart Hero, who has been in top form this winter and is another in the field going in search of a three-timer.

The trainer said: “We’ve left him a little bit unexposed deliberately for this and he seemed to step up markedly from a mile to a mile and one and a half furlongs and he really looked if he went that little bit further, he could improve again.

“Obviously he does need to settle and he does need to show that stays the mile and a quarter, but I thought the mark of 94 would get him in the race which it has, so we’re very optimistic and it’s a huge pot to aim at.

“He was impressive at Wolverhampton and the handicapper obviously raised him, but it didn’t look like the rise he gave him would have stopped him that day. If he can produce a similar level of form over this extra furlong, you’d like to think he goes in there with a leading chance.”

Gosden hoping for Good Friday with Bowmark

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Bowmark bids to live up to the promise of his impressive debut victory when stepping up in class for a red-hot BetMGM Burradon Stakes at Newcastle on Good Friday.

Owned by Lordship Stud – who 25 years ago won the Oaks with the Sir Henry Cecil-trained Love Divine – the son of Kingman excelled over a mile at Kempton in December and is now tried in Listed company, as he makes the first start of what could be an exciting season.

“It’s a hot race – there’s not many runners, but my god they are good,” said joint-trainer John Gosden.

“You don’t normally run a novice there, but I thought the straight mile with the slight uphill in the closing stages will really suit him.

“He’s trained fine at home, but he hasn’t been asked too many big questions yet. I think he will be a mile or mile-and-a-quarter horse, I don’t think he’s a mile-and-a-half horse, but I think we have to get through Friday first and hope it is a Good Friday.”

Bowmark’s rivals include Glittering Legend, whose rise through the ranks saw him beat off some stiff competition at Kempton in a race that often provides stars of the future.

Royal Playwright could continue Andrew Balding’s fine start to the season having made the podium in both the Solario Stakes and Royal Lodge at two.

“It’s on the all-weather, but I don’t think that will be a problem,” said Balding.

“The ground was pretty heavy at Doncaster in the Futurity (when last on his final start at two) so you can’t read much into that, but his previous runs were very good. It’s encouraging the way the three-year-olds are running.”

Karl Burke won this in 2024 with Cuban Tiger and now saddles Nordic Norm, who brings smart course form to the table having beaten the useful-looking Warrant Officer on debut.

There is also a strong Irish challenge, with Adrian Murray’s Titanium Emperor looking a real talent when downing a well-fancied Aidan O’Brien-trained rival on his Dundalk debut.

“He is a nice horse and would go there with a live chance,” said Murray, who won the Easter Classic on this card 12 months ago.

“I think he could end up getting a bit further than a mile, but we do like him.”

Also running for Ireland is Michael O’Callaghan’s Michael Scofield, who has twice impressed when visiting Southwell and has earned his chance to mix it in this grade.

O’Callaghan said: “He’s a horse we’ve always thought would be better in a better class of race and he probably didn’t learn a whole lot with his two wins at Southwell as he made all both times, but it’s nice to drop him into this grade and see where we’re at with him.”

Patrick Mullins makes flying Newcastle visit worthwhile

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Newcastle was the latest track Patrick Mullins ticked off on his tour of the UK as Armed And Fabulous ensured the trip was worthwhile.

The leading amateur rider is on a mission to ride a winner at every track in England, Scotland and Wales and took his tally up to 15 out of 41 on the 13-8 favourite.

Trained by Willie Mullins, the mare had to dig deep in the Shaklan Dubai Equine Products UK Mares’ Maiden Hurdle to see off My Kiwi Girl by two and a half lengths having tracked a wide path throughout.

“I just felt it was maybe fresher ground on the outside but then up the home straight the horse in front was jumping to the right so I had to switch to the inside which wasn’t ideal,” he told Sky Sports Racing.

“She’s been off for a long time but we had her pretty ready and she was tough.

“She was as ready as we could have her really, we weren’t coming over here for the Newcastle sunshine!

“She’ll probably jump a fence in time looking at the size of her but I’m just delighted for her owner Pete Davies and his son Rufus is here, she got an injury last time and he’s been very patient.

“She didn’t jump that great at the second last but that was probably the first time she’d raced down to a hurdle. I had to switch inside just before it so it probably looked worse than it felt.”

In recent weeks Mullins has ridden winners at Catterick, Wetherby and Carlisle.

First Ambition gets Laurens off the mark as broodmare

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First Ambition, son of the top mare Laurens, made a winning debut in the Win £1M With BetMGM’s Golden Goals Maiden Stakes at Newcastle.

Laurens was an eight-time winner who was trained by Karl Burke to six Group One successes – the Fillies’ Mile, the Prix Saint-Alary, the Prix de Diane, the Matron Stakes, the Sun Chariot and the Prix Rothschild.

First Ambition, a bay colt by Invincible Spirit, was foaled in April 2021 and is therefore now classed as a four-year-old, but his racecourse introduction proved worth the wait as he contested a seven-furlong maiden under Clifford Lee.

A 13-2 chance in a field of well-bred horses, including Lord Capulet, a half-brother to Rosallion, First Ambition always looked to be travelling well and was not hard pressed to pull away from the aforementioned rival to score by a length and three quarters for Burke.

Lee told Sky Sports Racing: “He’s a lovely horse, he’s been working really well, he’s done enough at home and just needed to get to the track.

“He’s obviously been off for a while and was having his first run as a four-year-old, but as long as he stays sound, I think he’ll be a lovely horse for this year on turf.

“He’s still such a big, green horse and like I was saying, he’s done enough at home and we just needed to get him to the track now.

“He’s done it very nicely, he travelled really well, I kept it very simple and he stayed right to the line.

“At home, I’ve ridden him a few times in his gallops and we have thought a lot of him, he’s galloped really well, but there’s only so much you can do at home and we’re just delighted he’s got his head in front there.”

First Ambition will bid to uphold family honour at Newcastle

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There will be a regal pedigree on show at Newcastle on Thursday, as First Ambition becomes the first foal out of multiple Group One heroine Laurens to take to the track.

Trained throughout her exceptional racing career by Karl Burke, the daughter of Siyouni won eight times from 17 starts and struck six times at the highest level over three seasons, including Classic honours in the Prix de Diane.

As yet, none of her progeny have made the track, but it is fitting that her very first will be saddled by Burke and the colt has undergone his preparation at the same Spigot Lodge training centre which his illustrious mother once graced with her presence.

Karl Burke is the trainer of First Ambition
Karl Burke is the trainer of First Ambition (Mike Egerton/PA)

Burke is delighted to finally see First Ambition make his racecourse bow at the age of four and although Kevin Ryan could field well-regarded opposition in the form of Lord Capulet, the Middleham-based handler is hopeful of a strong start in the Win £1M With BetMGM’s Golden Goals Maiden Stakes over seven furlongs.

“He’s a lovely horse and has been very backward. He’s had a few little niggles, nothing serious, but he’s worked nicely and can definitely gallop,” said Burke.

“I think Kevin Ryan has a nice Sheikh Obaid-owned horse in the race, so it won’t be an easy start, but whatever he does, he will improve on. I think he will run well.

“This is the first foal Laurens had and the second one is with Ralph Beckett and he’s a lovely, big scopey horse like she was. I’m unsure if he’ll emulate his mother, but he will be a nice horse in his own right.”

Another good Saturday winner for Ned Fox and Venetia Williams

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Ned Fox and Venetia Williams teamed up for the second weekend in a row to win a valuable handicap chase, this time with Frero Banbou at Newcastle.

Whereas last Saturday it was Mortator who landed the spoils for the in-form duo over two miles, Frero Banbou had to prove his stamina over three miles.

Fox took up the running with almost a mile to go as Ben Pauling’s Bowtogreatness checked out, and Frero Banbou’s slick jumping meant he was always going to be hard to catch.

However, favourite The Changing Man moved stylishly into contention for Brendan Powell and approaching the second-last looked to have all the momentum.

He got in a bit tight, though, meaning the advantage was back with Frero Banbou (17-2) and when The Changing Man also failed to ping the last, Fox was able to drive his mount out to win by a length and a quarter.

“It’s brilliant, I’m very fortunate to be in the position to ride nice horses on a Saturday for Venetia,” said Fox.

“He’s got a bit of scope to him in fairness, he ran over the National fences last time which helped him switching back to the normal ones, he’s a brilliant jumper.

“That was his first run over almost three miles so he had to prove his stamina today, too. He’s pretty versatile, all ground seems to come alike to him. It’s good ground today, but he’s won on heavy as well.

“That’s my first winner at the track so great to get another crossed off.”

Arise, Sir Gino! Fighting Fifth super-sub leaving Henderson with ‘conundrum’

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Sir Gino put up a brilliant display to take the BetMGM Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle – and so good was he that he is set to provide his trainer Nicky Henderson with a ‘conundrum’.

In a race that was always the intended starting point for his superstar stablemate Constitution Hill before he met with a setback, Sir Gino stepped up to perform super-sub duties for the Seven Barrows yard.

The unbeaten four-year-old had been earmarked to go novice chasing – and the way he jumped two from home suggests that will be right up his street.

However, always galloping all over his rivals up the straight, he ran right away from the rest after the last, with Nico de Boinville giving a triumphant salute abord the 6-5 joint-favourite at the line.

Nico de Boinville is all smiles after Sir Gino's impressive display
Nico de Boinville is all smiles after Sir Gino’s impressive display (Richard Sellers/PA)

Market rival Mystical Power was a big disappointment, with Mark Walsh sending out distress signals after the fourth-last aboard Willie Mullins’ five-year-old.

De Boinville was understandably suitably impressed.

He said: “First of all I’d like to thank the racecourse for the effort they made with the ground, they got it right so well played.

“He was fresh enough early doors and he jumped great. He just missed one going down the side, but that was only after I pulled him out wide in fairness. After that he seemed to learn a bit.

“He pinged all of them up the straight and he finished off well.

“I’ve got really swept up in the atmosphere here, it’s great, I’ve never had a reception like that anywhere else.

“He’s a very talented horse and we’ve always known that. To come and do it like that is impressive.

“I thought we went a nice even gallop all the way and his only semblance of a mistake was when I pulled him wide, but that was because I didn’t want to get hemmed in down the rail.

“You could see why we think he’s going to be a chaser, he’s got scope to burn.”

Trainer Nicky Henderson at Newbury
Trainer Nicky Henderson at Newbury (Adam Davy/PA)

Speaking at Newbury, Henderson told ITV Racing: “He’s very, very good – we’ve always believed it. He has got to prove it, and I think he’s taken another step in the right direction, but he’s a seriously talented horse.

“It’s a relief because we’ve probably been vociferous in our opinion, but they’ve got to go and do it. If you think he’s good, he’s got to go and do it.”

Asked whether Sir Gino could still switch to chasing, he added: “He’s so good at it. You haven’t seen a horse over fences like that. It’s unbelievable. We’ve been lucky to have quite a few good two-milers and he’s as good as I’ve seen.

“We’ll see how things pan out. We’re not going to go into the Constitution Hill situation here and now because it’s pointless – he’s fine, we’ll leave it at that, absolutely fine.

“But we’ve got a conundrum to come. There’s the Christmas Hurdle and don’t forget Joe (Donnelly) owns State Man as well, so we’ve got to try to play the cards to suit his game as well.

“That (race) would sort of say do you really need to be going chasing this year, I have to admit.”

Lavender Hill Mob beaten on eagerly-awaited hurdling debut

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Lavender Hill Mob suffered a shock reverse on his jumping debut, finishing well-beaten behind Inappropriate in the Paul Ferguson’s Jumpers To Follow ‘Introductory’ Juvenile Hurdle at Newcastle.

Seventh in the Queen’s Vase at Royal Ascot, the reappearance of Lavender Hill Mob (2-7 favourite) had been eagerly-awaited ever since trainer James Owen mentioned him favourably in post-race dispatches following the runaway Cheltenham success of stablemate East India Dock last month.

It did seem to be going relatively to plan until things started to hot up, and Nico de Boinville’s mount was treading water when the Jedd O’Keeffe-trained Inappropriate (11-2) swept clear on what was both his jumping debut and first run for his new stable after leaving Harry Eustace.

O’Keeffe, who has his small string in good form, said: “We’re very pleased, we decided to have a punt at this race. We won it a few years ago with a horse we bought at the sales (Tavus, 2019) and it was a fairly small field that day so we thought we might get a small field again.

“We thought it was a nice place to start, even if he didn’t win it looked a nice place to introduce him.

“We’ve always liked him a lot at home and his jumping has always been exceptional, there’s a really nice rhythm and shape to the way he jumps and it was the same today.

“We haven’t made any plans, if there’s another race like this, quite valuable, that would be great, but I haven’t really looked beyond today in truth.”

He added: “Juvenile hurdles are different these days, there’s a lot of ex-French in them as the jumps trainers generally can’t compete with the overseas market but we managed to find him, so I’m delighted.”

Skyjack Hijack (10-11 favourite) has been a revelation this season and Jennie Candlish’s charge won for the sixth time in succession in the Weatherbys nhstallions.co.uk ‘The French Furze’ Novices’ Hurdle.

There are few hurdlers in training who get from one side of a hurdle to the other quicker than him and it must be a real thrill for Sean Quinlan riding him.

Adopting usual front-running tactics, Tony Martin’s Zanndabad was the only one to get within hailing distance but he was still beaten nine and a half lengths.

Alan O’Keeffe, Candlish’s partner and assistant, said: “He’s been great, he goes a good gallop and keeps going, jumping is his biggest asset.

“I honestly think the way he jumps he reminds me of a Champion Hurdle horse as he spends not time at all in the air and is very accurate.

“That will be it for a while now as he’s been busy and the ground will start to change. How high can he go? He’s doing everything right but Sean maybe thought he just wasn’t quite as sharp today and he got warm at the start so that indicates he needs a break.

“I wouldn’t expect we’d see him until February time and then Cheltenham comes into the equation. Whether than is handicaps or the Albert Bartlett we’ll see. It takes a fair horse to win six and he’s beaten some decent horses there.”

Mystical Power and Sir Gino set for ‘interesting and informative’ clash

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Willie Mullins expects to have a clearer idea of where Mystical Power fits in his formidable squad of hurdlers after he takes on Sir Gino in the BetMGM Fighting Fifth at Newcastle.

While the absence of the sport’s pre-eminent star Constitution Hill is undoubtedly disappointing, his defection has at least thrown up a mouthwatering clash between two rising stars.

Mystical Power is regally-bred as a son of the great Galileo out of brilliant racemare Annie Power and has won four of his five starts over obstacles to date, his only defeat coming at the hands of Slade Steel when filling the runner-up spot in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham in March.

The five-year-old, who is owned by the powerhouse trio of John Magnier, JP McManus and Rich Ricci – and will this season carry the colours of the latter – went on to win Grade Ones at Aintree and Punchestown in the spring and will on Saturday bid to provide Mullins with his first ever Fighting Fifth success.

“It’s funny how the race cuts up, I thought Mystical Power would be about 10 or 12lb out on ratings, but I think he’s now 2lb well-in with Sir Gino on last year’s juvenile ratings,” said the Irish and British champion trainer. “It will be a very interesting and informative race.

“I had thought about running Mystical Power over fences, as he’s a hell of a jumper over a fence, we’ve schooled him a couple of times. I said so to Rich and JP, that if this hurdling lark doesn’t go well for him, he can go novice chasing, but that is looking like next year now at this stage of the season.

“I think I’m right in saying he could be the best Galileo over fences! There’s only been a few but he’ll vie for that slot if he ever goes chasing.

“He’s so sharp – he’s a two-miler. We didn’t run on the Flat but what would he be – maybe he could be a Gold Cup horse. We’ve thought about it, but at the moment we’re just thinking of jumping.”

Mystical Power kicked off his career in minor events at Ballinrobe and Galway last year, which is perhaps a measure of the regard in which he was held at the time.

Mullins added: “He surprised us a fair bit. We didn’t run him at two or three because he wasn’t good enough.

“We shouldn’t be surprised because his mother was a late developer. Jim Bolger trained her and he never ran her at two or three, so it tells me she wasn’t catching his eye either.

“Quevega was the same, her breeder told me she’d be slow to mature. We’re lucky we have people who are not afraid to wait and maybe get the best out of them.”

Sir Gino on his way to victory at Aintree
Sir Gino on his way to victory at Aintree (Mike Egerton/PA)

Having won on his only start in France, Sir Gino quickly established himself as one of the stars of the juvenile hurdling division after joining Nicky Henderson last season.

He obliged on his Kempton introduction before blitzing Burdett Road on Festival Trials Day at Cheltenham – and while he missed the Triumph Hurdle in March, he signed off with a top-level victory at Aintree.

The four-year-old was all set to embark on a career over fences this autumn, but the latest setback suffered by Constitution Hill prompted the Seven Barrows handler to shuffle his pack.

Sir Gino clearly worked better than his illustrious stablemate in a public gallop at Newbury last week and Henderson does not see the late change of plan as a major issue.

He told Unibet: “As has been very well publicised, this was not the original plan, because we were all set to go chasing, which we could still easily do, but for the time being this is where he is and I’ve been very happy with his preparation.

“He schooled over hurdles on Tuesday and was very good. I must admit this is a very strong renewal of the Fighting Fifth, and Mystical Power has looked very good, but we have always held Sir Gino in extremely high regard and we will at least have a much clearer idea of which way his season might go after this.”

Other contenders include the Sam Thomas-trained Welsh Champion Hurdle winner Lump Sum and Dan Skelton’s mare Take No Chances, but Harry Derham has declared Brentford Hope a non-runner on account of unsuitable ground.

Mob-handed Owen hoping to further strengthen juvenile hurdler hand

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The highly-touted Lavender Hill Mob will get his hurdling career up and running when he heads to Newcastle for the Paul Ferguson’s Jumpers To Follow ‘Introductory’ Juvenile Hurdle on Saturday.

Trainer James Owen set tongues wagging when suggesting this three-year-old could prove even better than his impressive Cheltenham winner East India Dock and as such his introduction over timber has been eagerly awaited ever since.

Twice a winner on the Flat for Michael Bell, he was last seen finishing a respectable seventh in the Queen’s Vase at Royal Ascot and now has the assistance of Nico de Boinville in the saddle for the Gredley family as he enters the National Hunt sphere at Gosforth Park.

When asked where Lavender Hill Mob fits in a juvenile team that not only features East India Dock but also includes the unbeaten Liam Swagger, Owen – whose filly Opec looked smart at Newbury on Friday – said: “He’s obviously got the best form on the Flat. His Royal Ascot run was a good run, he’s done plenty of schooling and he’s ready for his first day out.

“He’s done everything right at home and Newcastle is a nice, galloping track to start him off, so it’s ideal. I’m looking forward to seeing him run, so fingers crossed.”

In the Weatherbys nhstallions.co.uk ‘The French Furze’ Novices’ Hurdle, it is Jennie Candlish’s Skyjack Hijack who looks the one to beat having racked up a five-race winning sequence this autumn.

Having started his winning run off a mark of 97 at Cartmel in August, he is now rated 132 with his team hoping he can continue showing the progressive form as he takes the next step up the ladder.

Skyjack Hijack in action at Exeter
Skyjack Hijack in action at Exeter (David Davies/PA)

“Hopefully the ground will be good, which he likes. There are a couple of unexposed horses in there, but I will be hoping his experience will stand him in good stead against those horses with less experience,” said Alan O’Keeffe, assistant to Candlish.

“He’s done great the last five runs, but he’s stepping up in grade all the time and taking on better and better horses each time.

“He’s up to 130 now and things are going to get difficult but it looks the logical step. He does carry a penalty but you don’t see many horses going into a novice hurdle having won five in a row and we just hope his experience counts and if he turns up like he did at Exeter I would be pretty hopeful of a great run.

“He’s schooled well over fences and that’s for the future but for now he does need to keep improving as he’s taking on a better class of horse. However, he’s doing everything right at the minute and with a bit of luck he will keep that progression going forwards.

“He’s due a break at some point and he doesn’t go on bad ground, so we will see what happens Saturday and it could be that he has a little break afterwards ahead of the spring.”

The concluding BetMGM Rehearsal Handicap Chase has some famous names on its roll of honour, with Cheltenham Festival winners L’Homme Presse and Yorkhill among the recent victors.

FA Cup-winning manager Harry Redknapp will now bid to add his name to trophy as Bowtogreatness – the horse he owns with trainer Ben Pauling’s wife Sophie – skips an assignment at Newbury to head to the north east in search of Rehearsal glory.

“I was really tempted by Newcastle and I think this is the right stepping stone to keeping his season going the right way because he seems in really good form with himself,” said Pauling.

“The ground is good and it was obviously the same ground at Newbury when he won. He’ll have come on a bundle for that first run.”