"He is very good" - Lac De Constance sparkles on chasing bow

Dan Skelton has plenty to look forward to with Protektorat following his Betfair Chase success at Haydock Park on Saturday, but stablemate Lac De Constance could be in for a profitable season judging by his debut win over fences at Kempton Park on Monday.

Fresh from celebrating one of the biggest successes of his career at the Merseyside venue at the weekend, the Alcester handler was all smiles once again following the victory of the gelded son of Martaline in the Racing TV Novices’ Chase.

Unbeaten in three starts over hurdles, the striking grey, who tasted Listed victory at Exeter last season, looks set to play an even more prominent role over fences if his success on his first start over them is anything to go by.

Putting in a near foot perfect round of jumping the 2-1 chance coasted home to collect the two and a quarter mile test by 20 lengths under the trainer’s brother Harry to set up a potential return to track on December 27th for the Grade Two Ladbrokes Wayward Lad Novices’ Chase.

Skelton said: “He is very good and we have always thought that. To be to Andrew and Wendy (Cohen, owners) that have been super patient with him and let me take my time with him to make him the best horse he can be.

“He was a little bit keen in his bumpers and that is why we had to look after him and then he went novice hurdling. I didn’t chuck him into the deep end but I did give him a couple of tests but it was all about making him into the best chaser he could be.

“You can see he is a horse of some ability. I think if the Wayward Lad came up soft he would be a strong consideration for such a race. If not, we will go somewhere else. You might look at that and think he is the finished article but he is not yet.

“He wasn’t ready for all that type of business (Cheltenham and Aintree) last season but he will be only when he is ready. If we do it when he is ready he will be a player.

“I just don’t want to go and take the wraps off and say go on son it is up to you and let him go in one as I think you will find he needs his hand held a bit longer.”

Ashley Head has owned plenty of smart individuals over the years but he believes Blow Your Wad could ‘easily be the best’ after finally opening his account in the EBF Stallions “National Hunt” Novices’ Hurdle.

Having seen his silks carried to Grade One glory by the likes of Ar Mad in the past Head, who owns the Tom Lacey-trained four year old with Jerry Hinds, believes the Walk In The Park gelding could scale similar heights when having his attentions switched to fences.

Although pressed all the way to the line by eventual runner up Carrigdoun Boy the 4-11 Favourite, who finished fourth in the Grade Two bumper at Aintree in April, eventually prevailed by a length to go one better than on his hurdles debut at Ascot 23 days ago.

Head said: “I was slightly disappointed as he should have won by further but he is learning all the time. Stan (Sheppard, jockey) said he thought he could win by any distance at one point.

“If you look at his bumper form he should easily be a 140-rated horse but he has got to learn how to race but he will get there. We got him as a three year old on looks and breeding. He is bred to be a three mile chaser.

“He could easily be the best horse I’ve had and he reminds me of Tea Clipper at this stage. He has just got to learn how to race.”

Paul Nicholls is considering giving Miranda a breakthrough outing at Grade One level after insisting that ‘plenty of doors’ have been opened up following her emphatic success in the Racing TV Mares’ Hurdle at Kempton Park today.

Despite having stamina prove on her first start over an extended three miles, the seven year old mare responded in the fashion the Ditcheat handler had hoped for in the Listed feature to run out a ready winner under Harry Cobden.

Sporting first time cheek-pieces the 7-4 second favourite travelled into the race smoothly under Harry Cobden before joining long-time leader Molly Ollys Wishes approaching the second last.

After quickly scampering clear between the final two flights the daughter of Camelot, who finished second on the Flat at Nottingham last month, eventually passed the post with 11 lengths to spare from 13-8 Favourite Martello Sky.

Nicholls said: “She ran well on the Flat the other and I put some cheek-pieces on just to sharpen her up but I’m not saying that made the difference today.

“Stepping up to three miles on soft ground has helped but she is as well as we have ever had her and she looked brilliant. She has won very nicely and beat two good mares.

“Now we know she goes three miles on soft ground it opens up plenty of doors for her. Kevin Stott rode her at Nottingham the other day, where she was a bit unlucky not to win, and he said you could go as far as you want.

“I gave her one run at Worcester in the spring before we put her away over two and a half and we thought then that she wants three miles.”

Looking ahead Nicholls has earmarked the Grade One Howden Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot on December 17th as a potential target for Miranda, providing conditions are suitable.

He said: “I’m going to enter her in the Long Walk. She gets seven pounds off the geldings and you wouldn’t be afraid running against them on a stiff track after that performance if it came up testing ground. There is no real star in that division.

“I nearly put her in at Newbury on Friday (Long Distance Hurdle). She is worth sticking in something like that (Long Walk) as you might drop across one of those races where it is really soft. You have to have cover all your options.

“If the Mares’ Hurdle (the Grade One Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle at The Festival™) at Cheltenham was soft ground she would definitely have a go, but she would want soft ground to bring out the best in her.

“Today was her race and anything she does after this will be a bit of a bonus.”

Gary Moore believes a step up to three miles could help spark more success for Dorking Lad in the future judging by his 16-length success in the racingtv.com Handicap Chase over an extended two and a half miles.

Moore said of the 7-2 winner: “I’m surprised he has done it so well. He picked up well turning in but I think the race fell apart and they stopped in front of him.

“He is a genuine old horse. He probably thought he had a bit of breather and that is why he ran on.

“Looking at today he would probably go a bit further and we might step him up to three miles.

“He has been a great old horse and he has taken to chasing really well. He was born to be a chaser to be honest.”