Jet To Vegas could be bound for the
meeting at Aintree after springing a minor surprise in the bet365 Premier Novices’ Hurdle at Kelso.
Willie Mullins’ Chart Topper was sent off the 5-4 favourite for the Grade Two contest, with the Lucinda Russell-trained Jet To Vegas sent off a relatively unconsidered 16-1 shot under Derek Fox.
He raced prominently throughout, sitting on the outside of the pacesetting Vanderpoel until that rival started to backpedal at the second-last, leaving Jet To Vegas to strike for home.
It looked as though Patrick Mullins was merely biding his time aboard Chart Topper but when he gave the signal, Jet To Vegas found plenty for pressure, pulling two and a half lengths clear at the line.
Russell said: “He’s lovely, isn’t he? I knew the trip was the right thing for him. He normally has to go right-handed, but it was worth taking our chance here.
“When he was fresh he jumped right-handed, but actually when he was tired he jumped straight.
“I kept thinking he’s running too free, but he’s just got so much class he’s fine.
“He’s not in at Cheltenham and we’ll look at Aintree. I can’t wait to go over fences with him because everything about him says chasing.”
Patrick Mullins, riding at Kelso for the first time, made no excuses for the runner-up.
He said: “He ran a cracker and it’s actually a faster track that I had imagined watching the replays.
“My fella has jumped well and travelled well and the winner has just beaten us, no excuses.
“We followed him all the way, he was jumping to his right and I was jumping a little to my right.
“I would say for us it’s yielding ground – it’s more good than soft. It’s beautiful ground and I’d say the winner is a nice horse.
“It’s a fantastic atmosphere and my flight isn’t until 8pm so we get to enjoy it for a bit now and I might be back later in the month for the meeting on March 22.”