Pendil power: Tamaroc Du Mathan gives Nicholls eleventh winner of race

Tamaroc Du Mathan moved closer to a first Grade One at the Randox Grand National Festival after giving trainer Paul Nicholls a record extending eleventh success in the Close Brothers Pendil Novices’ Chase at Kempton Park.

After finding only Arkle favourite Shishkin too strong at the track over two miles at Christmas, the Johnny de la Hey-owned six year old appeared to appreciate the step back up in trip after running out a ready winner of the Grade Two contest.

Sitting just off the early pace for much of the extended two mile four event, the Evens favourite moved into a lead he would not surrender over the penultimate fence before surviving an error at the last to defeat Ga Law by three and three quarter lengths.

Nicholls said of the successful six-year-old: “We hoped it was the right race for him. It is the first time he has won over two and a half but he got the trip nicely. He jumped nicely and loves good ground that was perfect. He has got plenty of scope.

"I think it surprised Harry (Cobden) as he came out of his hands as he thought he would go in a bit closer but it showed you he had plenty of energy left. He is only a novice and that is his third run over fences. He is still learning.

“I’d suspect he will go to Aintree for the two and a half mile novice chase (Manifesto Novices’ Chase) or to Ayr the weekend after for the Future Champions Novice Chase. I don’t see him going to Cheltenham. It is a nice race to win en route to Aintree or Ayr. A flatter track suits him. He is the sort of horse you could look at the Silviniaco Conti Chase back here over two and a half next season.”

A trip to Aintree is also on the agenda for Hometown Boy, who made first start off the season a triumphant one in the Close Brothers Asset Finance Handicap Hurdle.

Not sighted since finishing seventh in the re-arranged EBF Final over course and distance 350 days ago, the six year old demonstrated he was match fit first time out after proving three and a quarter lengths too strong for Ecco.

Stuart Edmunds, winning trainer, said of the 11-1 chance: “He has got some good form. He just had a bit of a problem with a knee and we never really got to the bottom of it. We just had to lock him up, touchwood he hasn’t had a problem since.

“He is an easy horse to get fit first time as he puts a lot of effort into his work. The plan was to come here then go for either the two and a half mile handicap hurdle or three mile handicap hurdle at Aintree.”