Maggie Mathias aiming for Newbury
A trip to Newbury in the spring is on the agenda for Maggie Mathias after the consistent sort was rewarded for her efforts in the Mares Only “National Hunt” Novices’ Hurdle at Warwick.
Brendan Powell’s seven-year-old has now won or been placed on six of her eight starts and pulled clear under Mick Fitzgerald to score as the even-money favourite.
Powell said: “Apart from when she broke a blood vessel she has never ran a bad race.
“I’ll probably give her a break now and bring her back for the Mares’ Final at Newbury in March, and she’ll probably have one race before.”
Nigel Twiston-Davies ended the year on a winning but dramatic note as Beat The Boys was gifted success in the 2008 Annual Membership Novices’ Chase.
There were three in with a chance jumping the second-last but Dinnie Flanagan soon went on and held a winning advantage – only to crash out at the final fence.
That left the way clear for Paddy Brennan to capitalise on the 11-4 chance and take the three-mile-two-furlong feature by two and a half lengths.
Twiston-Davies said: “Paddy thought he had a bit up his sleeve. but whether he would have won or not we will never know.”
Jim Old plans to spend some time in the New Year scouring the programme book for Super Lord after the 12-1 shot defied top weight and a 282-day layoff in the 01.01.08, 31 Racecourses, TurfTV Handicap Chase.
Old said: “He has gone and done it nicely and I think he wants further (than three miles) so I’ll try and find a big staying handicap for him.”
A first win over fences came the way of the Philip Hobbs-trained Presenting Copper (7-2) as she forged clear to take the warwickracecourse.co.uk Beginners’ Chase by 13 lengths.
Despite pecking on landing at the first and another slight blunder at the third, the mare extended turning for home and never looked like being caught under Richard Johnson.
Hobbs’ wife, Sarah, said: “Richard was delighted with her and said two miles is her trip on soft ground, but she would probably get two and a half miles on good ground.
“She did lunge at the first but once she got into a rhythm she was great – and she will make a lovely broodmare.”
Not many got into the New Year’s Eve Party Novices’ Handicap Hurdle and it was one of the front-runners in Honour’s Dream who landed a confidence-boosting success at odds of 9-1.
Trainer Tom George’s wife, Sophie, said: “He enjoyed being out in front and he stays, but he has such a big knee-action that he must have soft ground.”
Alan King’s 9-2 joint favourite Dragon Eye built on his third-place effort over the course and distance three weeks ago to take the closing Turf TV Showing The UK’s Best Racecourses Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race.
