Sandown Saturday review: Chasing Fire on Sky Bet Supreme trail

Fire fuels Supreme dream

Olly Murphy hopes Chasing Fire can help him complete unfinished business in the Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival next month after maintaining his unbeaten record in impressive fashion in the opener.

Having saddled Thomas Darby to finish second in the 2019 renewal of the Grade One prize for Grahame and Diana Whateley at The Festival, the Wilmcote handler hopes the gelded son of Maxios can go one better for the same connections on March 14th.

Arriving on the back of a brace of victories at Market Rasen the 4-6 Favourite completed the hat-trick when seeing off recent Taunton scorer Iliko D’Olivate by six lengths under Aidan Coleman in the opening Virgin Bet Novices’ Hurdle.

Following the race Chasing Fire was trimmed into 14/1 from 16/1 for the Supreme by the race sponsor while Paddy Power remained unchanged at 16s for the same race.

Murphy said: “I think he is good, but I don’t know how good he is. His main attribute is that he has got the most unbelievable way of doing everything. He is the most laid back horse you will ever set your eyes on. He is in the Supreme and I would (like to have a go at it).

“He would be a 12 or 16/1 chance for the Supreme and if I didn’t go there I would be all but favourite for a Grade One at Aintree and that would be the Gold Cup of his novice career. He is going to be a very good chaser next season.

“I’ve had some good two milers and I’ve been second and third in the race (Supreme) but I’ve never had a horse to win a Supreme or be a champion but he is unbeaten and he does what he has to do.

“He is a lot more laid back than Thomas Darby and Itchy Feet, and I know they are a bit longer in the tooth now than this lad, but his work at home has always been exceptional. I hope he can be good but he has got to take that next step up again now.”

Murphy feels that a Grade One victory at The Festival for Chasing Fire would be the perfect way to thank the support he has received from the Whateley’s, who saw Thomas Darby carry their colours to glory at Ayr earlier this week.

He added: “They have had a fantastic week. They are massive supporters of mine and massive supporters of National Hunt racing and it is important they get a good horse. You have to chuck money at this game and you have to kiss a lot of frogs before you find your Prince Charming. They are my number one fans and supporters and to potentially have a good one for them is great.”

Lucki bounces back

Owner Mike Newbould saw his wait to celebrate the 100th winner of his career finally come to an end after Third Time Lucki (5/1) appeared to benefit from the application of hold up tactics when coming from last to first in the Virgin Bet Dolos Handicap Chase.

Without a victory since tasting Grade Two glory at Doncaster last January, the Dan Skelton-trained eight year old finally got his head back in front when forging on close home in the two-mile prize to defeat early leader Fast Buck by a length.

Newbould said: “It has been a long time waiting. We had Kracka Nut win at Market Rasen in October and Dan went on television and said that is Mike’s 99th winner, watch this space as in the next couple of weeks he will be on 100 and that was three months ago!

“He has been a lovely horse. Last season he won twice early on at Cheltenham then won the Lightning at Doncaster and he then lost his way a little bit after that. We saved him for Aintree and we came up against Gentlemee De Mee and Edwardstone.

“He hasn’t been right this season but hopefully we have turned a corner. I like the look of the Grand Annual but it depends what the handicapper is does to him. I think Dan would be keener to go to Aintree for the Red Rum on a flat track. One thing the horse has got is speed, he has always been quick and on better ground he would be a better horse.”

Victory aboard Third Time Lucki, who was clipped into 9-1 from 10-1 for the Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Handicap Chase by Paddy Power, also marked a first at the course for winning rider Kielan Woods.

He added: “I’ve been looking forward to that one. I’ve never ever ridden a winner here and I’d say I’ve had more seconds than anybody.”

Power takes revenge

Twin Power exacted revenge on his last time out Plumpton conqueror Twinjets when opening his account for the campaign with a tenacious length and a quarter success under Adrian Heskin in the Virgin Bet Novices’ Handicap Hurdle over two and a half miles.

Paul Nicholls, winning trainer, said of the 9/2 chance: “He is just an improving young horse. He improved from finishing second at Plumpton the other day having run terrible at Wincanton but he has just taken a while to learn what to do.

“I just think mentally he is improving as he has been a weak horse and he will keep getting better. We haven’t got to the bottom of him yet.

“We will find another handicap for him then go novice chasing next season as that is when you will see him at his best.”

Owner Max McNeill is already dreaming of tasting Grade One glory over hurdles with Inthewaterside (13/2), who completed a 40/1 double for both Nicholls and Heskin in the concluding Virgin Bet Open National Hunt Flat Race.

Standing at 17” 2’ hands tall, the gelded son of Jeu St Eloi towered over his rivals in both the parade ring and the on the track after following up his debut victory at Exeter 64 days ago by six and a half lengths.

McNeill, who owns the five year old with Gary Stevens, said: “He is a beautiful specimen. I went down to see the horses at Paul’s and I was looking at a co-owner at Thames Water and Paul said I have this horse for sale.

“Adrian Heskin was with us and Paul said to Adrian go out in the field there are five horses and one is for sale. They walk about 400 yards and Adrian picks this big black horse and he said I hope it is that one and it was.

“He did it well and powered away. I over celebrated but it is nice when you have had a day like we have had today.

“We certainly won’t go to Cheltenham. I will speak to Gary but my view is if Paul said that is it for the season that will do me. Paul said he will be winning races like the Challow Hurdle next season.”

Green day

Venetia Williams hailed Green Book one of her ‘better buys’ after he booked his place on her team for next month’s Cheltenham Festival when recording back-to-back wins in the Virgin Bet Heroes Handicap Hurdle.

The talented dual-purpose performer made it two wins from as many visits to the Esher track when battling on under Charlie Deutsch to defend his crown in the extended two miles and seven furlongs contest, which this year doubled up as a qualifier for the Pertemps Final.

Taking command of matters over the second last, the 6/1 chance continued to find plenty for pressure to defeat course specialist Call Me Lord by three lengths.

Williams said: “I’d love to tell you this was the plan, it kind of was, but we were going to go for the Lanzarote then I thought we would have a better option at Lingfield but they lost that. I’m pleased we have got him qualified for the Pertemps Final.

“He is one of my better buys at the Arqana (Deauville Autumn mixed) sale in November 2020. I wasn’t there and I hadn’t got a horse off the Flat for a while as it is tough to get them but I picked him out and I told my agent buy him.

“I said don’t look at him, buy him, as I knew he would look at him and say he is too small. He sent me a message just before saying the reserve is 30,000 euros and that nobody was here so I said just buy him. It took me a while to sell him.

“We put a partnership of four people together and they originally wanted a sixth share each but we couldn’t find another two.”

A trip to The Festival might be next on the agenda for Green Book but after that a return to the Flat beckons for the gelded son of Authorized with a tilt at the Chester Cup in May identified as a potential target.

She added: “We might have a run in between now and Cheltenham and we will probably also take him back to Chester afterwards.

“We won that Chester Plate the year before last with him and last year we won it with Bellatrixsa who finished third in the Towton at Wetherby.

“He would be borderline to get in the Chester Cup. We didn’t go last year as he had quite a busy time over hurdles.”

Charlie Longsdon celebrated a winner before dashing off to Twickenham to watch England take on Scotland in the Six Nations after Castle Robin (10/1) got his career back on track with victory in the Virgin Bet Masters Handicap Chase.

Out of luck in his two previous starts this season the gelded son of Robin Des Champs bounced back to his best to capture the three mile contest by a length and a half in the hands of Paul O’Brien to set up a potential outing in the Ultima Handicap Chase at The Festival on March 14.

Longsdon said: “We’ve always said this season there is a big race in him. He got struck into at Cheltenham and he pulled up after the fourth fence. We thought he would win that day to be honest. The best thing we did was give him time.

“My head lad Alan Roche had a bet on him and it is probably the first time he has had a bet in two years. This was his Gold Cup today and what happens now I don’t mind.

“I’m delighted for the owners as they have been very patient. You would have to enter him in the Ultima and Kim Muir but I would say Paul (O’Brien, jockey) needs to keep the combination so you would be looking at the Ultima.”

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