Jango Baie made an excellent begin to his chasing profession with a slick victory within the SSS Tremendous Alloys Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham.
Nicky Henderson’s five-year-old bay was a Grade One novice winner over hurdles, with a second-placed point-to-point run additional again on his report.
He returned to leaping bigger obstacles beneath guidelines within the palms of Nico de Boinville at 7-4, with a lot of the eye on the Paul Nicholls-trained Caldwell Potter, who was despatched off the 11-10 favorite.
The latter was on the head of affairs, however Jango Baie had very shut tabs on him all the way in which round and when the sector turned for residence it was Henderson’s contender who was in a position to kick on to a formidable win, as Springwell Bay took second and €740,000 buy Caldwell Potter completed third.
Henderson mentioned: “I at all times assume it is a large check for a novice to come back right here first time over fences and I do not like doing it.
“I used to be going to go to Aintree final Saturday for a three-horse race, however that was off and I used to be compelled into coming right here. My rule is to not come right here first time, however this fellow may be very intelligent.
“Nico requested him some correct questions for a child and he acquired some correct solutions as effectively. For not the largest horse on the planet, he is acquired a variety of scope.
“He certainly wasn’t stopping at the end there over two-and-a-half (miles), he galloped right out. He looks a stayer.
“The proprietor has acquired Jingko Blue, who put up a sensible efficiency at Uttoxeter a few days in the past, as effectively. We’re fortunate we have some good novice chasers this yr, so we have to see who is 2 miles and who’s three now there is no two and a half (on the Pageant). They’re high-class issues.”
Of Caldwell Potter, whose ownership group, which includes Sir Alex Ferguson, went to a record price for a jumps horse in training to secure the grey in February, Nicholls said: “Harry (Cobden) was thrilled with him, he mentioned he jumped nice and has learnt an terrible lot at the moment.
“We didn’t learn a massive amount up at Carlisle, his jumping was good and Harry said he definitely wants slower ground than that.
“He might have gone a gear faster if he wished to, however he did not need to ask too many questions of his leaping. We have learnt lots at the moment and maybe you would not be afraid to return to 2 miles if it was actually testing floor and simply let him roll on.
“Today he jumped well, they sprinted up the straight and he was just done for a little bit of toe, but he only had a few runs over hurdles and is learning all the time. I think there’s a lot to come.
“We weren’t going to run him, however we simply thought it will be good to get him some expertise round right here. Rome wasn’t in-built a day and Harry mentioned do not be disillusioned, he’ll be advantageous.”
King Turgeon surges up the Cheltenham hill for Pipe and Tudor
King Turgeon bagged his second big prize of the season when rallying gamely in the Sonic The Hedgehog 3 Coming Soon Handicap Chase at Cheltenham.
The David Pipe-trained grey already had a victory over the Grand National fences to his name this season in the Grand Sefton.
Identical to at Aintree, Jack Tudor made a lot of the working however with three furlongs to go he was headed, this time by each Our Energy and the favorite, Chianti Classico.
It was Kim Bailey’s Pageant winner who led into the straight beneath his new jockey Ciaran Gethings, however Our Energy was pestering him and some lengths down Tudor had pulled King Turgeon (9-4) large for an additional crack.
He started to remain on powerfully up the hill and he ended up working out a convincing three-length winner, with Our Energy edging top-weight Chianti Classico for second.
Connections of the winner could not now be too involved that their preliminary goal, the Becher Chase at Aintree final weekend, was deserted as a result of Storm Darragh.
Paddy Energy and Betfair minimize the winner to 33-1 from 50s for the Grand Nationwide.
Skelton runner greatest by a Nation Mile at Cheltenham
Nation Mile seemed a sensible prospect for the Skeltons as he relished getting again on some first rate floor when denting some large reputations within the British EBF “National Hunt” Novices’ Hurdle.
The five-year-old completed second to Jonjo and AJ O’Neill’s Roadlesstravelled at Haydock on Betfair Chase day within the mud, however seemed a totally totally different prospect on a faster floor.
Nation Mile heads for residence
Settled effectively of the tempo by Harry Skelton, the Sam Thomas-trained Palacio set a powerful early gallop whereas all eyes had been on Nicky Henderson’s French recruit That is Good and Gordon Elliott’s Wingmen, who dominated the market.
Nevertheless, when that pair closed in on the chief, Skelton was nonetheless sat immobile on Nation Mile (5-1).
That is Good discovered disappointingly little, leaving Wingmen in entrance however Nation Mile was galloping throughout him, together with his jockey immobile as he sauntered to a seven-and-a-half-length win.
Delighted coach Dan Skelton mentioned: “It was a surprise to see him win like that really. They obviously went quite hard and he’s loads of ability, hasn’t he?
“He jumped lots higher at the moment. He did not leap all that effectively at Haydock and I believe the bottom actually acquired to the underside of him that day as effectively.
“We knew he had ability, but I thought if he was ever going to win a race of deep quality he’d do it hard. I didn’t think he’d saunter round like that, but they went so quick in front.
“I do not know what we’ll do with him now, we’ll see what the handicapper does.”
