Festival could be on agenda for Supreme
Beau Supreme continued on an upward curve at Ludlow yesterday and left trainer Chris Down wondering whether a trip to the Cheltenham Festival might be in order.
The eight-year-old prevailed in a thrilling finish to the Forbra Gold Challenge Cup, although he had to survive a stewards’ enquiry before collecting the spoils having just got the better of King On The Run by a head after the pair came very close in the last few strides.
Down said: “He is entered in the National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham but we will have to discuss with Mick (Fitzgerald) as to whether he would get the four miles. I am not even sure he is ready for that type of race.”
It looked as though King On The Run had made a winning move at the start of the home straight but he hit the third-last, giving Beau Supreme his chance to get on terms.
Down added of the 12-1 winner: “He did drift across but they have to miss the water jump which is located by the finishing post.”
Fitzgerald was, however, given a caution by stewards as they considered the interference had been caused by careless riding.
Go For Bust (10-1) gave Nicky Henderson a headache after an easy 19-length success in the Surelodge National Hunt Novices’ Handicap Hurdle.
Pushed well clear by French jockey Vincent Conte, Go For Bust will have a difficult time now from the handicapper, as Henderson expects.
He said: “Although he is a chaser in the making, he will stay over hurdles but where we go next will depend on the handicapper. That was obviously impressive and he is an improving sort.”
Turaath took the Moore Scott Handicap Hurdle by half a length from Graffiti Tongue at 14-1.
Cannock permit holder Tony Deakin, who only has two horses, said afterwards: “I called him a dog at Taunton so today he has made me eat my words! Jim (Culloty) said he had gone too soon but the others folded and left him in front.”
After the trials and tribulations of the last 24 hours, it was back to winning business for Martin Pipe as Medison provided him with the perfect tonic in the ludlowracecourse.co.uk Novices’ Hurdle.
Held up until turning for home, Medison had a battle on his hands from the last flight with Flying Enterprise pushing him all the way.
However, Medison took the verdict by a short head under Timmy Murphy and it was six lengths back to long-time leader Queen Soraya.
Travelling head lad Eamon Lee said: “Timmy said he is still a bit green. He is still a bit of baby and but time is on his side.”
Medison holds an entry in the Coral Cup at the Festival but Lee was non-committal as to whether the engagement would be fulfilled.
Angel Delight (7-1) ended her long wait for a victory in the Tattersalls (Ireland) EBF Mares’ Only Novices Chase (Qualifier).
In an incident-packed race, Angel Delight denied The Sister by one and half lengths after looking under threat from Easibrook Jane at the final fence.
Joe Tizzard was poised to deliver a dangerous challenge to Angel Delight but Easibrook Jane got the fence all wrong and almost came down.
Researcher’s hopes of justifying favouritism ended with a spell of indifferent jumping, and there was even a scare for Angel Delight when she jumped across Researcher and The Sister.
The win gave 7lb claimer Willie Kennedy his third win for trainer John Spearing and his ninth this season.
Cobreces, formally in the care of Paul Nicholls, came from the clouds to snatch the Chase Meredith Memorial Trophy (Hunters’ Chase).
It looked as though An Capall Dubh and What A Mover had the race between at the last fence.
But Jamie Snowden had Cobreces in top gear and the Lucia Borradaile-trained seven-year-old came between the pair to take the verdict at odds of 20-1.
