Kempton report: Call Me Lord the highlight of Henderson treble

Nicky Henderson said it was a pleasure watching stable stalwart Call Me Lord (11-2) end his near three-year wait for a victory when leading home a one-two for the triumphant trainer with a front running success in the Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle at Kempton Park today.

Without a victory to his name since claiming Grade Two honours in the 2019 Unibet International Hurdle at Cheltenham, the popular nine year old set the record straight with victory in his return to action in the two miles and five furlongs feature contest under Daryl Jacob.

Although pressed hard up the run by stablemate Captain Morgs he could never quite get on terms with three quarters of a length separating the pair at the line to form the second leg of a near 27-1 treble for Seven Barrows master Henderson.

Henderson said: “It is never ideal having two in the same race but as you know we have to get going with them when you have got the ground, track and race.

“He deserved that as he is special. (Owners) Simon (Munir) and Isaac (Souede) have been with me for a very long time and over the last couple of years we have lost Top Notch and L’Ami Serge and this boy is getting quite senior too but that was great to see.

“Daryl said he might as well pop out in front as there was not a lot of pace forecast in the race. He has just drifted enough down the handicap to allow him into a race like that.

“He has been running in Grade Ones and Twos most of his life and that is tough for him now but now off that mark it gave him a great opportunity.

“He has been so consistent all his life. It gives us all a lot of pleasure seeing him do that and I hope it has Simon and Isaac as well as those sort of horses are special.

“That trip is about right for him. He loves Sandown and you could run him over eight miles or six furlongs there and he would be fine. Kempton is down the road and it was right handed so it worked out well.”

Finishing behind the Henderson pair back in third was last season’s Randox Grand National fifth Fiddlerontheroof, who will now revert back to fences for the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury later this month.

Joe Tizzard, trainer, said: “I was really pleased with that run as he was giving a lot of weight away. It was the perfect prep run for the Coral Gold Cup as it blew all the cobwebs away.

“He looked a little bit flat out but he jumped okay and he galloped all the way through the line.”

Tweed Skirt (5-4 Favourite) provided Henderson with his third winner on the afternoon, and a second for winning rider de Boinville, after bolting up by 32 lengths in the Weatherbys nhstallions.co.uk Mares’ Handicap Chase.

Plenty of well devised plans have started following a discussion in the pub, and the decision by a group of friends to form the Belbroughton Racing Club continued to be rewarded after Frere D’Armes (15-8 Favourite) made his first start over fences a winning one.

Having finished sixth in the Grade Two Sky Bet Dovecote Novices’ Hurdle on his last visit to the track the Dan Skelton-trained five year old was not to be denied on this occasion when taking the Jamie and Laura Are Getting Married Handicap Chase by four lengths in the hands of Harry Skelton.

Mick Boyce, of the Belbroughton Racing Club, said: “There was a few more in the club when it started but there are five of us now. It all started from a friend’s pub near Belbroughton in Worcestershire.

“That was his first time over fences and that was a good performance. Dan said he was fit and we thought he had a decent chance. He won twice over hurdles but he was purchased to go chasing. Off 120, we thought he might have been well-handicapped.”

Ten times Grade One winner Altior might now be enjoy a well-deserved retirement, however the silks of owner Patricia Pugh he carried to glory on 21 occasions were seen back in the winner’s enclosure following the victory of Attacca.

Having finished second on his debut at Warwick 221 days ago, the form of which has already been franked by winner Are You Wise To That, the Mahler gelding went one better with a battling success in the Watch Racing TV Free For 31 Days Novices’ Hurdle.

Sent of the 10-11 Favourite to collect the two mile prize, that stablemate and subsequent Champion Hurdle winner Epatante, landed in 2018, the four year old gelding duly obliged when repelling last time out Plumpton scorer Alien Storm by a length under Nico de Boinville.

Winning trainer Nicky Henderson said: “He had been shaping up nicely at home but at the end of the day he is still a baby but they have all got to start somewhere and that was a nice start for him.

“He ran very well in his bumper and he jumped well there. This is the perfect place to come to, a good track on decent ground. It was the perfect start.

“He knew what to do and he had a good blow at the second last Nico said. He will be fine and Nico said you could up him to two and a half if you want to but there is no rush. He does everything right.

“For the time being we will take small steps and find a similar race. He will have a penalty to carry but we will let him do that.”

Tim Vaughan was quick to thank the efforts of his son, and former pony racer, Edward following the debut success over fences secured by Dalamoi, (7-2 Co-Favourite) who ran out the seven and a half-length winner of the Get Your RacingTV Free Trial Novices’ Handicap Chase.

Vaughan said: “We had him as a two year old and Ed rode him all the time and did all the breaking in with Alan (Johns, winning rider). His best mate Henry Pugh, who has recently joined us, now does a lot of the riding on him at home.

“He is a nice horse. I couldn’t quite put my finger what happened at the back end of last season. From where I was standing that was a very impressive performance. It doesn’t overly shock me that he has done that as I’ve always thought the world of him.”

Proud mum, and triumphant owner, Georgia Morgan admitted she could ‘barely watch’ Twig and her son Beau Morgan in the Visit racingtv.com/freetrial Novices’ Hurdle, but she needed not have worried after the pair cruised to glory by 14 lengths.

Morgan said following the victory of the Ben Pauling-trained gelding (1-4 Favourite): “It is so exciting, but I can barely watch though that is the trouble.

“Usually I’m at home behind the sofa but I thought I would make it today as no one else could come down.

“I thought he might win at Cheltenham coming up the hill the last time. We dropped him back in trip today and he seemed to like that.

“He is quite a tricky character and once he has got his head in front he almost pulls himself up but today he went out in front and seemed quite happy

“I’m really pleased as we were going to run in this race then put him away for a holiday as it won’t be his ground now.”