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Paul Nicholls happy with winning start for Brio Conti over fences at Carlisle
By Racing TV
Last Updated: Tue 5 Dec 2023
Paul Nicholls will look to give Brio Conti more experience after the six-year-old made a winning debut over fences by a narrow margin in the Compare At bookies.com Novices' Chase at Carlisle.
Brio Conti was a smart novice hurdler last term, ending the campaign with a respectable fifth place behind Finian's Oscar in a Grade One contest at Aintree in April.
He was sent off the 2-5 favourite to make an immediate mark over the bigger obstacles, but those who took those short odds did not have an easy time as Alzammaar made Brio Conti fight to get the verdict by a short head under Sean Bowen.
Speaking from Kempton, Nicholls said: "He just got home and Sean had to pull him back a bit as he was a bit free.
"I've had a few problems with him, but he will improve massively for the run as he would have needed it. I wasn't going to run him until it cut up like it did.
"He is a proper horse and will be way better than that run. He will just get better. We may just find another smaller race with him to get some more experience."
There was a sting in the tail for the successful rider as Bowen picked up a two-day ban for hitting his mount in the incorrect place approaching the winning line.
Harriet Graham took the training honours courtesy of a 272-1 double with Rhymers Stone and Aye Right.
Ridden by 5lb claimer Thomas Dowson, Rhymers Stone (12-1) got up in the last 100 yards to foil the 11-4 favourite Meadowcroft Boy by a neck in the Visit The All New racinguk.com Handicap Hurdle. Bahrikate was just a head away in third place.
Aye Right denied 2-1 favourite Kateson by three and a quarter lengths to spring a 20-1 surprise in the Compare Free Bets At freebets.org Standard Open National Flat Race in the hands of 3lb claimer Callum Bewley.
Ann Hamilton's Nuts Well overcame an indifferent round of jumping to land the Compare Bookmakers At bookmakers.co.uk Graduation Chase. Brian Hughes drove the even-money favourite to get on top on the run-in to beat Derintoher Yank by three-quarters of a length.
James Ewart's Un Guet Apens (11-1) only led 50 yards from the finish for 5lb claimer Steven Fox as he took the Bet At racinguk.com Handicap Chase by a length and a quarter from Brother Scott.
The Evan Williams-trained Cesar Collonges (7-2) answered Adam Wedge's every call in the last half-furlong to collar the 9-4 market leader Canny Style by a neck in the Compare Horse Racing Odds At bookies.com Novices' Hurdle.
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