Warwick report: Stage Star makes polished start to chasing career

Stage Star announced himself as a big player in the novice chasing ranks this season, after making a taking winning debut in a warm-looking renewal of the Jewson Stratford-Upon-Avon Stan Mellor Memorial Novices' Chase at Warwick on Tuesday.

It was just the third running of the two and a half mile contest but it has already proven to be informative, with both Allmankind (2020) and Do Your Job (2021) going on to win at Grade Two level later in the campaign after taking this – while the subsequent Arkle Trophy winner Edwardstone was brought down in the race 12 months ago.

It looks as though this year’s form could prove to be strong, too, with Stage Star’s three rivals including last year’s Greatwood Hurdle winner West Cork and the highly-regarded Skytastic.

Paul Nicholls’ charge, sent off at 11-10, struggled at the spring festivals last term but he was a Grade One winner earlier in the season and he virtually made all under jockey Harry Cobden, producing a solid round of jumping for a 13-length success that saw him introduced at 20-1 for next year’s Turners Novices’ Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.

It looked as though he would be given something to think about late on by West Cork, who joined him at the last, but the Nicholls horse seemed to have matters in control and a tidy jump secured his victory – much to the delight of Nicholls’ assistant Charlie Davies.

He said: “That was back to the old Stage Star and I don’t think that could have gone much better on debut over fences. I think he showed every technique you need to be a good chaser, when Harry asked him he came for him and when he needed to be quick and clever he’s been clever. He’s schooled brilliantly at home and for him to come and do that on the track is all we could have hoped for really.

“West Cork is a very good horse, he won the Greatwood which is a high level of form. He’s rated 3lbs superior over hurdles and we’ve given him a good beating and hopefully it shows that we’ve got an exciting future with Stage Star.

“I think the boss had Newbury in mind (the Berkshire Novices’ Chase) for him, but it will be down to him and I’ll sure he’ll find the perfect race for him. To be honest the main aim today was just to get the Stage Star back from last season. To see him do that today is probably as satisfying a winner for me personally as I’ve had this season so far and it’s really exciting times.”

Davies took over in the role from Harry Derham back in May and when asked about how he was finding the new job, he added: “It’s been a great start and the horses are running fantastically. I’m really enjoying the new role and I’m loving coming racing all the time and being more involved and speaking to Paul and Clifford (Baker, Head Lad) about everything. I couldn’t have asked for a much better start and long may it continue.

“This is my fourth season at Ditcheat, I did three years as a pupil under Harry (Derham) and I was a very moderate jockey for Jonjo O’Neill before that. I’ve been there a while and got to know the routine and now I’ve got this opportunity, I feel very privileged and I’m loving it.”

Meanwhile, Dan Skelton’s assistant trainer Tom Messenger was happy to give West Cork another chance to find his feet over fences. He said: “We’ll see what Dan says but I think Harry was keen to have another go over fences somewhere. There’s not been many opportunities about hence why everyone has clashed today on a nice track and nice ground, so hopefully we’ll find him something else and go from there.”

West Cork’s owner Mike Newbould added: “We like this horse and the big debate is whether we go hurdling or chasing. I bought him to be a chaser and we couldn’t have given him a tougher start really. He’ll improve for that today and we’ll go again and we’ll see about trip and whether we stay at this distance or go back to two miles.”

Elsewhere on the card, the Stuart Edmunds-trained Gunnery Officer (4-1) impressed when making a winning start over timber in the Jewson Leamington Novices' Hurdle over two miles and three furlongs.

The six year old was a dual winning pointer over in Ireland and it quickly showed, with the son of Califet producing a professional display under Charlie Hammond, despite having some difficulty going around the final flight.

Hammond explained: “That was very professional and he jumped very nicely, he was very measured and I’m very happy. We obviously knew he’d stay further so we wanted to make sure it was a proper gallop and he’s got into a lovely rhythm. I quickened up leaving the back straight and he’s done it really well in the end.

“He’s actually a bit blind in his left eye, so going round the last was a bit more of a task that it was to jump it, but it didn’t matter in the end anyways. Stuart said to me he’d been working well at home so we thought we had a nice horse and it was just whether he’d be good enough to win here and thankfully it’s all gone to plan.”