Huntingdon Sunday review and replays

Laurens likely to go out in trip

Jamie Snowden intends to work back from the European Breeders’ Fund Novices’ Handicap Hurdle Final at Sandown with the talented Laurens Bay after he finally opened his account for the campaign.

Arriving on the back of second place finishes at Stratford and Fontwell the Youmzain gelding finally turned silver into gold in the Trustatrader Approved And Reviewed Trades People Novices’ Hurdle.

Backed in as if defeat was out of the question 8/11 duly obliged in what looked a warm looking renewal of the two mile contest.

Although forced to pull out all the stops to get the better of recent Kempton Park scorer HMS President the odds-on favourite did just that when asked for his maximum effort by Gavin Sheehan after getting up to prevail by half a length.

Snowden said: “I love this one. He is an absolutely smashing horse. He was a bit green the first day, and I perfectly accept that, as we hadn’t been on the grass much with the dry autumn.

“The last day we were second down at Fontwell, but the race has worked out incredibly well.

“He is just a big raw individual and whatever he achieves over hurdles will be a bonus. We won’t aim too high as he will be a lovely chaser next season. We will go for a novice with a penalty and work away gently.

“I think he wants two and a half miles so I think the EBF Final will be his target.”

No drama as Clotilda delivers

Paul Nicholls hinted that a step up in class could be on the cards for Clotilda, who made her stable debut a winning one in the Trustatrader Fully Vetted Tradespeople Juvenile Maiden Hurdle at Huntingdon.

Without a win to her name in eight starts in France the daughter of Clovis Du Berlais hit the ground running on her first start in Britain with a front running length and a quarter success in the two mile contest under Harry Cobden.

And following the race Nicholls earmarked the Listed Byerley Stud Mares’ Novices Hurdle at Taunton on December 30th as one of two potential options for the Dave Staddon-owned filly.

Nicholls said of the 2/9 favourite: “We expected her to win. She doesn’t necessarily want to be in front, but we had no option.

"I got her for the owner to have some fun through the winter and she will go to Taunton now for either juvenile or a Listed fillies’ race.

“She is a great fun filly that goes in the mud and will gallop all day. She will stay further and we will have a lot of fun with her.

“We have had to get her jumping a bit sharper at home, but she is a good tough filly that will give her owner a great deal of fun.”

Saunders times it right for Murphy

Lewis Saunders was back in the good books of trainer Olly Murphy who heaped plenty of praise on the young rider after he completed a hat-trick of wins aboard Bread And Butter in the Trustatrader Apply Today Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle.

Twenty four hours after watching his beloved Aston Villa see off Southampton 1-0 in the Premier League the Wilmcote handler found the back of the net on the racetrack after the Westerner gelding continued his recent resurgence following a wind operation.

After gathering a head of steam towards the last the 4/1 chance dug deep up the run in to pass leader Ghasham before pulling away during the closing strides to score by a length and a half.

Murphy said: “In fairness to Lewis he is a very talented young lad and he is learning the whole time. He got a right rollocking at Southwell earlier in the week, but that is part of it.

“I worked for Gordon Elliott and Alan King and if you made a mistake you got a rollocking. He is a good young lad who got a rollocking, but has bounced back from it and he gave that a very good ride.

“There is only one winning post on heavy ground and there is no point being there at the top of the home straight.

“I'd say the wind op has helped him. He has come down the weights from where he was. The race did fall apart, but at the same time you have still got to win them."

Rest of the action...

Dan Skelton suggested an outing in the Champion Bumper at the Cheltenham Festival could come into consideration for Supreme Malinas following her hard fought success in the Trustatrader Apply Today Henrietta Knight Mares’ Open National Hunt Flat Race.

Never one to shirk a challenge, the Shelfield Green handler hinted that a tilt at the Weatherbys backed contest in March could now come under consideration for the four year old following her latest Listed success.

Although having to settle for second best on her rules debut at Newton Abbot the Malinas filly was not to be denied on this occasion.

After reeling in long time leader Roses All The Way inside the final furlong of the two mile prize the 5/2 chance continued to pull out more before eventually scoring by a length and a quarter. And the victory completed a good weekend for triumphant owner Garry Wilson, who also tasted Listed glory at Sandown Park 24 hours earlier with Honky Tonk Highway.

Skelton said: “You wouldn't believe how bad the ground was the day she won her point-to-point. She was two lengths ahead at the last and she ended up winning by 20 odd lengths.

“When it did this the whole way up today we thought it wasn’t going to affect her. She loves these conditions as she is hard and tough. I’m very proud of her.

“To some degree it is job done, but I would run her in the Champion Bumper if it came up really soft. The race for her really is to go for the Listed race at Sandown before the Cheltenham Festival, but she would have to carry a penalty.

“We might run her in another race before then and let young Harry Atkins take seven pounds off to give her another day out somewhere.”

Paddy Power make Supreme Malinas a 33/1 chance for the Champion Bumper.

Theyseekhimthere made a winning return for the second season in succession after benefitting from a power packed James Bowen ride to land the trustatrader.com Handicap Chase.

After springing a 125/1 surprise on his hurdles debut at Lingfield last November the Warren Greatrex-trained Elusive Pimpernel gelding failed to back it up in four subsequent starts.

However, following a second wind operation, the 7/2 chance showed an admirable attitude on his chasing debut when getting the better of a late battle with Proper Twelve to claim a two length success.

Oliver Kozak, assistant trainer, said: "It was a great ride by James as he got him into a lovely rhythm, but he is just a dour stayer.

"He has always schooled a bit clumsily at home, but he has taken to fences really well today and he found, and dug in deep at the end. He is a big horse that just went a bit weak on us last season. He has strengthened through the summer and he is honest. Hopefully he can put it all together now."

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