Haydock report: Egbert digs deep in Tommy Whittle

Egbert showed endless reserves of stamina to stay on strongly and win the Betfred Tommy Whittle Handicap Chase at Haydock.

Showing the benefit of his seasonal debut at Exeter, Alan King’s seven-year-old demonstrated a real liking for the extreme test.

He made no impression in the Scottish Grand National last season but with another year on his back, he looks like being a major player in some top staying contests later in the season.

However, he did only look booked for a place at best when Jacks Parrot streaked clear and seemingly had the race in the bag.

Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero’s five-year-old, racing off bottom weight, appeared sure to collect at the second last.

However, the petrol gauge was soon running on empty and given a sniff, Egbert (16-1) and Gavin Sheehan stormed past to win by four and a quarter lengths, with 10 lengths back to the favourite Famous Bridge in third.

Sheehan told Racing TV: “He was brilliant. I couldn’t have him in the ground and I was going to pull up with a circuit to go.

“He kept on plugging on and he got a new lease of life turning in for some reason and he came alive for me.

“From there, I thought we could nick a place, but the further along we were going, the better he was getting.

“At the last he was good and brave, and all the way to the line I was getting more and more confident.

“He ran over four-one last year. He’s got all the ability, it’s whether he’s on song on the day. I enjoyed that today and I’m sure he did.”

Sheehan then doubled up on Jamie Snowden’s Milldam (5-2) in the Betfred Hat-Trick Heaven Handicap Hurdle.

Holloway Queen maintained her unbeaten record under rules with an ultimately smooth victory in the Betfred Supports Jack Berry House Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle at Haydock.

Second in her only point-to-point before joining Nicky Henderson for £180,000, she beat a dual bumper winner in Jasmine Bliss on her hurdling debut.

Sent off the 4-5 favourite raised in class to Listed grade on Merseyside, Nico de Boinville, on his only mount of the day, was content to take a lead from Kelya Wood until the pace picked up at the third last.

However, while the leader flew it, the favourite made a bit of a mess of that obstacle and was suddenly facing an uphill task.

It speaks volumes for her ability, though, that within a matter of strides, De Boinville was back on the bridle upsides Kelya Wood and seemingly going the better.

She put the race to bed on the run to the last, although Fromheretoeternity was beginning to stay on strongly when coming down at the last flight, which left Kelya Wood a 15-length second.

The winner was given a 25-1 quote for the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham by Paddy Power.

De Boinville told Racing TV: “We met the third last all wrong but she seems to be able to quicken up nicely in this ground. It’s hard work but she seems to like it.

“The idea early doors was I didn’t want to let the one in front get too far ahead of us and it worked out nicely in the end.

“She’s got a bit of character. Jerry McGrath bought her and he’s done well, she’s a good find.”

Asked if the Jane Seymour Hurdle at Sandown could now be a target, the jockey added: “I don’t know where we are going to go but that sounds like the right sort of programme.”