Nickle Back is Scilly Isles hero for Best and Humphreys

galloped to a memorable Grade One victory in the Virgin Bet Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase at Sandown following a bold front-running ride from .

It was a fairytale first success at elite level for the jockey and West Wratting trainer Sarah Humphrey, although the race was marred by a fatal fall for Hermes Allen at the second-last fence.

Best and 10-1 shot Nickle Back established a healthy lead in the early stages, with 8-13 favourite Hermes Allen heading the chasing pack.

Some exuberant leaps allowed the pacesetter to extend his advantage to fully 20 lengths with three to jump and he was again foot-perfect at the Pond Fence.

After Nickle Back bounded clear from two out, Djelo clawed back some of his lead up the stiff home stretch but Best’s mount was not for catching, prevailing by seven lengths.

Best said: “That was just such a magic moment. For me to ride a Grade One winner – I genuinely cannot believe this moment has happened.

“You literally grow up watching these races on the TV as a kid and I think I am a lucky kid just by being a day-to-day jockey as that is what I grew up wanting to do. To have a day like this is just magic.

“I can’t thank Sally, who owns him and Sarah enough. They have done such a great job with the horse.

“In fairness and I know it sounds silly but he lost a great deal in defeat when he was beaten in those two Grade Twos as one or two things didn’t go as smoothly as you would have hoped. Fair play to Sarah, as she always said two and a half was his optimum trip. We thought it was worth having a go over two miles last time as he has such a forward way of going.

“Today I planned to get out of the gate, get some of the zest out of him over the first few and then try my best to calm him down a bit. Up the straight first time, I almost tried to say ‘woah, come here’ and he was almost coming out of my hands. I just tried to go with him the whole last circuit as that is how he likes to go – he is forward going so you try not to interfere but at the same time try and give him a breather too if you can somewhere.”

Best partnered My Silver Lining to success in the very valuable Wigley Group Classi Handicap Chase at Warwick earlier this month but admitted a Grade One success was extra-special.

 He concluded: “Warwick was a special day for different reasons as the horse was owned by my mother-in-law and my family was there. Today’s win was in the highest grade you can get and I am just unbelievably grateful to Sally, Sarah and all connections – it has made a little kid’s dreams come true.”

Sarah Humphrey, who is best at West Wratting just outside Newmarket, said: “We thought we had to give it a go today as there was nothing to lose. We had an uninterrupted preparation.

“I never thought we would win it to be perfectly honest but we thought we would show them what he could do. This is just unbelievable.

“I think he is growing up at last because he was wayward as a youngster. From day one, you could see the talent and we thought it was mad that he went off at 66-1 on his first start for us over hurdles at Southwell (in March 2021). Harry Skelton (who rode the winner of that race) said that is a good horse and keep hold of him. A horse like him only comes around once in a blue moon for a yard like ours.

“I don’t know if he will go to Cheltenham. We came here today to find out if we had a Grade One horse. I did put an entry (In the Turners Novices’ Chase) in for Cheltenham not thinking we would probably go there but now we need to go home, let this sink in and have a think.

“I think he is marginally better going right-handed but at Cheltenham it is up and down and the fences are big. I think he will love it but you’ve got to take on all the good Irish horses.

“James has been very good to me. He comes in and schools and rode this horse first time. James knows him very well and does a brilliant job on him.”

Paddy Power now make Nickle Back a 14-1 chance (from 33-1) for the Turners Novices’ Chase at the Cheltenham Festival on Thursday 14th March.