D'Airy off to winning start
Ofarel D’Airy has been plying his trade at a decent level over hurdles and the five-year-old made his fencing debut a winning one in the folkestone-racecourse.co.uk Maiden Chase at the Kent track.
Having chased home the likes of Roll Along and Moon Over Miami over timber, the Andy Stewart-owned gelding was switched to the larger obstacles by Paul Nicholls and won with his head in his chest.
The 2-7 favourite only had four moderate rivals to see off and after a mistake at the first fence he jumped well and cantered home under Ruby Walsh to beat Hibernian by four lengths.
Nicholls, Folkestone’s winning-most trainer, said: “He was a bit ignorant over hurdles so he has done loads of schooling and this was the ideal place to start over fences.
“He made a mistake at the first, but Ruby said he was brilliant after that and the way he has won he might be out again quickly.
“He kept finishing second over hurdles so we thought we’d go chasing and let him strengthen up in the spring. We can always go back novice hurdling next autumn.”
Maletton made the long trip from Venetia Williams’ Herefordshire base worthwhile with a first win for the stable in the folkestone-racecourse.co.uk Beginners’ Chase.
The yard had a tremendous run through the second half of 2006 and kicked off the new year with a winner as the seven-year-old travelled over 200 miles and obliged under Sam Thomas.
Having always been up with the pace, the 3-1 shot was clear after the third-last fence and was always going better than Marjina, who finished nine lengths back in second.
Jerry Roberts, representing Williams, said: “He was decent over hurdles in France but he struggled when he came to us as he was high in the handicap.
“It has taken him a couple of runs to get his eye in over fences and this was a drop in class.”
Simon Earle saddled his first jumps winner for 93 days when Tanzanite Dawn landed the Lookout Restaurant Mares’ Only Novices’ Handicap Hurdle.
Formerly with Andrew Turnell, the six-year-old was having her first start for Earle and after leading at the third-last flight she pulled right away to beat South Sands by a yawning 18 lengths.
Earle said of the Gerard Tumelty-ridden 6-1 winner: “We have had her six months and she wouldn’t set the world alight at home, so I am so surprised she has won.
“I thought she would blow up. She must have been fitter than I thought.”
Shardakhan (14-1) made amends for an unlucky run at Exeter last month with a defeat of the odds-on Supreme Huntress in the Visit Our New Website Novices’ Hurdle.
Gary Moore’s charge was forced to switch that day and ended up running through the wings of the final flight when holding every chance.
He had no such misfortune this time as he opened his account under the trainer’s son, Jamie.
The 8-11 favourite was treading water two flights from home but Moore’s mount travelled well and, after leading from the final bend, he recorded an 18-length victory over Supreme Huntress.
Lescer’s Lad recorded his first victory on his 30th start and provided 17-year-old Felix de Giles with his third winning ride under Rules when taking the Ted Long Challenge Cup Amateur Riders’ Handicap Chase.
Eastern Point was 13 lengths behind the 7-2 joint-favourite at the line, with market rival Gerrard another four lengths back after his rider Charles Huxley eased his mount up before the line.
The stewards ruled Huxley had not ridden out for second place and suspended him for 10 days, January 18, 21, 29, 30 and 31 and February 1, 3, 4, 7 and 8.
Roman Rampage (6-1) repeated his win of 12 months ago in the Paddock Selling Handicap Hurdle, with the 12-year-old obliging by a length and three quarters under Gemelle Gracey-Davison.
The closing Happy New Year Handicap Hurdle went the way of 7-2 chance Mount Benger after the seven-year-old stayed on best of all to give Richard Johnson his 101st winner of the campaign and his second of 2007.
