Coral Pendil Novices’ Chase report and free video replay

The 3/1 chance gave him a slight lead and made for an excellent jumping round that allowed him to stand out from his rivals after the last and claim a one-two.

Datsalrightgino tried to make progress down the stretch but the winner’s skilful jumping made life difficult for him and he had to settle for second place under Gavin Sheehan.

Third home winner Boothill was sent off by the 15/8 favorite, but he didn’t travel fluidly and didn’t catch up when the chips were down in the final quarter mile.

Cobden said: “He jumped brilliantly all the way and held up really well. Nobody wanted to do it and Paul didn’t think he was 110% ready today so we rode well and stable and he put on really well.

“I winged the last one, which probably helped seal the deal.”

Nicholls, who finished last year’s race in the same silk as Pic D’Orhy, said: “Three years ago he won the Adonis here and we thought he had the world at his feet but it couldn’t have been that easy.

“He just took a lot of time and had some problems with his breathing

“We have been optimizing his breathing since Boxing Day when we recauterized his palate and that has helped him. That Boxing Day form worked out really well and he was very good today.

“I was just concerned he would have three weeks off after wind surgery as you have to and I really only had three weeks to get him ready and I thought he had two weeks at his best. Maybe he’ll improve for that, you never know.

“It was a good plan (on Harry’s part) as he said no one wanted to do it so he sat down with him and just kept going and filling his lungs. It was a great ride.”

With no entries next to his name at the Cheltenham Festival, the Ditcheat handler suggested a return flight over course and distance might be on the agenda instead.

He added: “He’ll either go to Sandown the weekend before Cheltenham for a pretty valuable rookie chase, or there’s a valuable handicap here on Saturday after Cheltenham. He will go to one of the two next.

“The week after Aintree there’s this Future Champions Novices’ Chase in Ayr and that would suit him very well. There are many races for him, but it was just nice to win this one today.”

Rubaid has Aintree on the agenda

By Graham Clark

Nicholls may be putting the finishing touches on his team for next month’s Cheltenham Festival, but he has his sights set on a trip to Aintree Rubaudwho secured the biggest win of his career in the Sky Bet Dovecote Novices’ Hurdle, making it a one-two for Ditcheat yard.

After finishing eighth in his British debut in the Adonis Juvenile Hurdle 12 months ago, the Air Chief Marshall gelding son celebrated his second appearance at the meeting as a triumphant performance with a front heat win in the Class Two prize.

The 11/4 Chance, who had previously placed second across track and distance on Boxing Day, was a very balanced character with a first-time hood.

Since the favorite Hansard was not in the race, the mare Mullenbeg had to master the last challenge. However, their efforts fell short with a length and quarter that separated the pair at the line to complete a 13/1 doubles for Nicholls and jockey Harry Cobden after Solo’s earlier win.

Nicholls, who took his fourth win of the race, said: “He won twice earlier in the season and did everything at Taunton. The ground was a little soft here on Boxing Day and the Betfair Hurdle went haywire when it got a little lit.

“Today was much better. He relaxed and jumped great and continued cantering strong. He was in a bit of shape in France before he ran here last year but he was making a bit of noise and was bleeding that day so we fixed his gas and we gave him some time.

“That’s what he did earlier in the season at Taunton, he absolutely went in by going from the front. He’s a good horse – he just needs to learn to relax a little more.

“We’re not going to go for the Supreme as we have Tahmuras for it and he probably isn’t ready for it. You will not dominate there. Aintree is probably a bit easier for a front runner.

“I think a flat track suits him well and we’ll keep him nice and fresh and although it’s a big step up we’ll be aiming for a grade 1 over two miles at Aintree. The exciting thing is that next season he will be a great two-mile chaser.”

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