Joyeuse soared to victory at Newbury to maintain the William Hill Hurdle trophy within the yard of Nicky Henderson.
The gray is from the household of Epatante and like that mare is owned by JP McManus, for whom Henderson and Nico de Boinville mixed to win this race final season with Iberico Lord.
That horse was a part of the line-up as soon as once more however De Boinville opted to trip Joyeuse and he or she went off a 9-2 likelihood underneath a beneficial weight.
She thrived in a fast-paced race on delicate floor, bursting clear within the ultimate phases and crossing the road at a canter when eight lengths forward of Sam Thomas’ Lump Sum.
Joyeuse was lower to 8-1 by bookmakers for the County Hurdle however the mare just isn’t at the moment certified to run in a handicap on the Cheltenham Competition.
“She’s good and she looked really good there, she travelled well, jumped well and did everything right,” mentioned Henderson.
“She’s bolted up actually and you need to say she was within the excellent place the entire means. It was simply perfection and all over the place you regarded all of it appeared very simple.
“The step back in trip has suited her well and this was a true-run two miles and I think a bit of cut in the ground has helped as well.
“She will be able to’t go to a Cheltenham Competition handicap as she wants one other run to get in and I am hardly going to run her once more between now and Cheltenham. She’s solely had 4 runs over hurdles and he or she wants one other to run in a handicap.
“It’s caused a dilemma but it’s a good problem.”
Henderson received the race for a seventh time and the coach was delighted to as soon as once more declare the richly-endowed prize at his native monitor.
He added: “It’s a great race and a local race and one has followed it for all those years. It’s changed names a few times but well done to William Hill for coming in and sponsoring it – it means a lot to everybody.
“She’s a very good mare and all my winners have been good and are available right here underneath completely different guises. She was fairly inexperienced however she was good. That is solely the fourth hurdle race of her life.”
De Boinville was impressed with Joyeuse but described as “insanity” the fact Joyeuse could not go to a Cheltenham handicap at present.
He said: “She went by means of the race very easy and jumped nice. It was very simple.
“It’s madness she can’t go to Cheltenham. I’d say it’s pretty much bonkers that you can win a handicap like that but can’t run at Cheltenham, there’s more money here than Cheltenham.”
