Cheltenham round-up: Burdett Road shines in Triumph trial

James Owen saw his search for a first Cheltenham winner end in emphatic fashion after Royal Ascot scorer Burdett Road produced an exhilarating performance to maintain his unbeaten record over jumps in the opening JCB Triumph Hurdle Trial Juvenile Hurdle on Saturday 18th November, day two of The November Meeting.

After making a winning debut over hurdles at Huntingdon 13 days ago the Muhaarar gelding, who secured victory in the Golden Gates Handicap at the Royal meeting when trained by Michael Bell, looked a class above his rivals when running out a decisive winner of today’s Grade Two contest.

Anchored at the rear of the field during the early exchanges in the extended two-mile contest the 9-4 chance steadily worked his way through rivals before being delivered with his winning run as the field headed down to the final flight.

Measuring the last well The Gredley Family-owned three-year-old eased the concerns his Newmarket handler had of the ground being too soft following overnight rain when turning on the afterburners up the hill to clear right away under Harry Cobden and score by six and a half lengths.

Owen said: “We had to ride him like that. When the rain came last night I was like ‘Oh my God’, but he is a fair animal.

“A lot of the hurdles he hasn’t seen, but he has learnt a lot. On good ground he is going to be exciting come March.

“I’m in a privileged position to have these horses, but I’m delighted it is going well. We had to do one of two things, either make it or drop him in, and we have done the right thing.

“He was a bit more amenable today as he settled and jumped better. He has got some engine. He is tough. For a Flat horse he has got plenty of guts about him. I knew he would keep coming.

“Harry is a lot cooler than me as I’ve been so nervous, but I love it.

“This is massive. We have brought a few hunter chasers here in the past and you always go home thinking it is so hard to win here, but to get the job done is brilliant.”

All roads will now lead to the JCB Triumph Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in March for Burdett Road, who was cut for the Grade One prize by Paddy Power from 20-1 into 7-1 while Sky Bet went 8-1 for the same race.

Owen continued: “This is a Triumph Hurdle trial and that is now the aim. On good ground he will be exciting.

“We are loving the game and we have got a great team. I need more horses and we have proven we can do the job.

“I would love to get more horses as this is what we want to do. Hopefully this is a good advert.”

Cobden said: “James gave me a free hand and we made the decision to drop him in as he was too free at Huntingdon and if he is going to be a good horse then he is going to need to learn how to race properly. He’s a very classy horse isn’t he.

“He missed a few hurdles on the way round and could easily have got keen. I was just trying to put him into the bottom of them so I didn’t light him up with a good jump.

“He’s obviously a good horse and March is very much agenda now.

“I was still on the bridle (coming down the hill) and I suppose that is what it’s like if you are Paul Townend!

“It was really nice and he’s a proper little horse, he winged the second last and had a dream run though. You can go for gaps that possibly aren’t really there on a horse that isn’t travelling quite so well and when I pushed the button turning in he jumped the last and quickened up nicely.

“Paul (Nicholls) has a few nice juveniles but none probably as good as that.”

Nigel Twiston-Davies hinted that a step up to Grade One company could be on the cards sooner rather than later for Broadway Boy who resumed his progression over fences when leading home a one-two for the trainer in the From The Horse’s Mouth Podcast Novices’ Chase.

Finding only dual Stayers’ Hurdle winner Flooring Porter only too strong on his previous start at the track, the gelded son of Malinas confirmed that form with his stablemate Weveallbeencaught when making it two wins from three starts over fences in the Listed prize.

Putting the pressure on his five rivals from an early stage in the extended three mile contest the 9-4 Joint Favourite, who opened his account over fences at Worcester earlier in the season, held a sizeable advantage turning for home with all of those in behind seemingly treading water.

Jumping the last two fences with plenty of zest Broadway Boy continued to pile on the pressure before emerging victorious by 20 lengths to earn an introductory quote of 16-1 for the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase at the Cheltenham Festival with William Hill.

Twiston-Davies said: “I thought he was very impressive, and he beat our other horse by a long way and he is pretty good so it is happy days.

“Funnily enough he didn’t school that well when he started (over fences) but he soon warmed up to it. That is the way he has always been ridden and he did it beautifully.

“That was a good run behind Flooring Porter the last day and he as obviously improved for it.

“There is no point rushing into anything at the moment and we will see how he comes out of this. There is always the three-mile race at Kempton (Kauto Star Novices’ Chase on Boxing Day) which is a possibility, but we will see.

“As it stands I think his credentials (for the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase) are superb. It does look like he will stay all day, but I think we will stay at three miles for the moment as he seems to have a bit of speed, but let’s see as he has plenty of time.”

The victory led to wild celebrations both on passing the post and being led back into the winner’s enclosure from winning rider Tom Bellamy, who is close friends with the triumphant trainer’s son Wille Twiston-Davies who is heavily involved with the winner.

Bellamy said: “He was ultra tough and he was off it a long way out. I had to keep rolling as he is ultimately a galloping slow horse and I wanted to put that to full use. His best two jumps were his last two and it was game over then.

“It meant an awful lot as I’ve grown up with Wille Twiston-Davies and he has an awful lot to do with that horse and it meant a lot to us both.”

Jonjo O’Neill has enjoyed plenty of big race glory over the years with owner Gay Smith - something which he hopes will now continue with Springwell Bay who booked an immediate step up in class after making a winning return in the Paddy Power Intermediate Handicap Hurdle.

The Jackdaws Castle Stables handler believes the Kayf Tara gelding has the potential to make up into a candidate for Jump racing’s Olympics in March following his comeback victory off top-weight in the two miles and five furlongs prize under his son Jonjo O’Neill junior.

And while the six year old has a way to go to emulate the likes of Black Jack Ketchum, who carried Smith’s colours to Grade One glory at the Festival in 2006 in what is now known as the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle, O’Neill believes Springwell Bay is firmly on the right path.

Pitched into Grade One company on his final start at Aintree last season in the Turners Mersey Novices’ Hurdle the 85-40 favourite made the most of a drop back into handicap action on his comeback when prevailing by a length and a quarter.

O’Neill said: “He travelled well. He was a bit free early on, then he settled in well and jumped well. He did everything sweetly. You would be very pleased with the run.

“I was a bit worried with him having plenty of weight on that he might get swallowed up, but he is a game horse and he keeps galloping.

“We will go back and have a look at the calendar and see what there is. There are no plans at the moment. He needed to do that today to be that type of horse (Grade One).”

While O’Neill intends to let the dust settle before making a firm plan, an outing in the Grade Two Relkeel Hurdle back at the track on New Year’s Day could be an option on route to a possible tilt at the Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle at The Festival in March.

O’Neill added: “Those are the kind of races you would have to be looking at (the Relkeel Hurdle). I wasn’t really coming with plenty of confidence because he had 12 stone and it was his first run. He was grand. I liked what I saw.

“We have been very lucky with the owner and let’s hope he is another Black Jack Ketchum or better. If he is as good as him that will do, if he is better than him I don’t know about that. We will let the horse do the talking. That was a nice starting point and we have a nice horse to go to war with.

“I wouldn’t be frightened of doing that (going up to three miles). That would be my dream plan to get him to the Stayers’ Hurdle.”

Members of the Riverview Racing Syndicate were in full voice after Hascoeur Clermont continued his progression over fences with a tenacious success in the Wienerberger Amateur Jockeys’ Handicap Chase.

Having belatedly got off the mark over fences at the eighth attempt at Galway last month the Gavin Cromwell-trained six year old added to that success when bravely fending off all his rivals on his first start in Britain in the three mile one contest under Cheltenham Festival-winning rider Noel McParlan.

Taking up control of the race as the field headed out onto their final circuit the 12-1 chance was not to be denied a second win over larger obstacles despite being pressed late on by both 2022 Fulke Walwyn and Kim Muir Challenge Cup winner Chambard and Undersupervision.

Not one for relenting Hascoeur Clermont gamely battled on after the last to pass the post a length and a quarter clear of Chambard to secure a victory which led to vociferous celebrations from the 12-strong syndicate, of which eight were present to witness the win.

Richie Fitzsimons, of the Riverview Racing Syndicate, said: “We know he would stay all day. He has no pace, but he just keeps going. It was a brilliant ride from the jockey.

“We were delighted he got into the race as we didn’t know he was in until Thursday and that is when we booked the flights over.

“Gavin was happy with conditions and he loved the trip and the jockey was happy as well. He loved everything and we are delighted.

“It is easy to say it now that I thought he would hold on, but at the time I didn’t think he would hold on, but he kept on going.

“We are going to celebrate this by drinking lots of beer!”

As for Grade One-winning handler he has not ruled out bringing Hascoeur Clermont back to The Festival in March, however he was keen for connections to enjoy this success.

Cromwell said: “He has been frustrating over fences, but I can’t put my finger on why. At Punchestown he was maybe a little unlucky, although maybe he wouldn’t have won, as he unseated at the last. I’m delighted. He had a lovely weight out there today and I knew he would love that ground.

“It wasn’t the plan (to take a lead mid-race). We were supposed to take a lead but it was kind of out of his control, but at least when he got to the front he settled and jumped very well.

“He came from Colin Bowe from the point-to-point circuit and he would have had an awful lot of schooling there. He has always jumped well.

“I don’t know where we go from here but it is fantastic for the syndicate. This is their second horse as the first one didn’t work out. It is great for them.

“It is a brilliant experience for the owners. I said after he won at Galway the last day that he should get into this race or Cheltenham and I said whether he is good enough or not he should go for the experience.

“He would have a long way to go (to reach the Cheltenham Festival), but I wouldn’t rule it out. He was good today so you never know.”

Trainer Paul Gilligan insisted teaming up with his son Jack Gilligan to taste victory at Cheltenham was ‘heaven’ after Buddy One opened up the avenue to Grade One targets following a battling success in the Paddy Power Games Handicap Hurdle.

Having finished third in the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in March the six year old gelding confirmed the promise of that effort when following up his recent Galway victory in the three-mile test.

Well-supported throughout the day the son of Sans Frontieres was backed into 9-4 Favourite to make his return to Cheltenham a triumphant one, which he successfully did under a well-judged ride by Gilligan junior.

Despite being pushed all the way up the run in by The Newest One victory was to go the way of the Irish raider with a length separating the pair at the line.

Paul Gilligan said: “We have had a Cheltenham winner before at The Festival which was brilliant, but we come here this weekend and we fancied a couple of horses.

“To watch your son coming up the hill on a horse you train is heaven. This is a field of dreams. It can be heaven or hell. The dream has come true here. He is owned by great people and he is a really good horse.

“He was very unlucky in the Martin Pipe, but he was as straight as a gun barrel there today when he jumped the last. This is magic. It is just a pity my wife isn’t here as she is back at home keeping the yard going.

“I didn’t think he would be beaten today. His Galway run last time was really good. He was winning this race today off top-weight. He has gone out of handicaps now.

“This horse stays and he jumps. He never put a foot wrong. He was very foot perfect around there today and he was getting there too easy if anything.

While earmarking the Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle at the Festival in March, which he was introduced for at 33-1 by the race sponsor. as a long-term target Gilligan hinted that a Grade One outing in the Bar One Racing Hatton’s Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse on December 3rd could be next on the agenda.

He added: “Depending how he comes out of today he will go for the Hatton’s Grace and why not. You meet Willie (Mullins) and Gordon (Elliott) wherever you go, but today is so special.

“I thought after Galway he might go for the Pertemps, but he is not going for that now. It is quite possible he will come back for the Stayers’ Hurdle. He is an exciting prospect.”

What Baby Kate lacks in size she more than makes up in heart after maintaining her unbeaten record in fine fashion when securing some valuable black type in the concluding Karndean Designflooring Mares’ Open National Hunt Flat Race.

The diminutive four-year-old, who is the first foal of Grade One winner Augusta Kate, enhanced the fine record enjoyed by trainer Willie Mullins at the track when backing up her debut win at Ballinrobe in August after powering up the hill under Brian Hayes to score by four and a quarter lengths in the Listed event,

Patrick Mullins, son and assistant trainer, said of the 7-2 winner: “She has a superb pedigree. She is out of Augusta Kate, who is out of Feathard Lady, so it is a real fillies’ pedigree.

“We were lucky to lease her off Kevin Doyle. Jamie Codd broke her in and pre- trained her. The lads (owners the Gorm Agus Ban Syndicate) are a group of local lads (from back home) and they are living the dream.

“She didn’t win impressively at Ballinrobe, but the penny only dropped late with her and this was a black type race. It was either come here or go to Navan and we thought the ground might be nicer here.

“She is one of the smallest horses in the yard. She is tiny, but strong and has the ability. With the pedigree she had we were hopeful, and she looks incredibly like her mother.

“For Kevin, who owns her, and leased her to us, to get black type is fantastic with that pedigree and we will look at the black type bumpers in the spring.

“She will get a little break now as she is only four. We will probably go to the Dublin Racing Festival and see where we are after that.”