Review of the rest of the action from Saturday's meeting at Wetherby

Hyde claims Verdana scalp

Daryl Jacob combined with Brian Ellison to win the Listed bet365 Mares' Hurdle with Mrs Hyde (6/1).

She had 5/6 favourite Verdana Blue off the bridle going to the last but then had to dig deep on the run-in as the market leader threw down a determined challenge.

Only a neck separated the pair at the line and the winning jockey said: "I apologised to Brian and the owners. It's one of the worst winning rides you'll see.

"She winged the third last and we found ourselves in front far too soon. She's brave though and really dug in for me."

“She’s never stopped improving,” said Ellison. “When she won at Southwell and Perth during the summer, she made the running, but after she got beat at Market Rasen we decided we’d drop her in and give her a chance. It worked at Kempton and it’s worked again today.

“Daryl said he got to the front a bit early today. The plan was to sit until the last and try to pick the favourite off. She’s won on soft ground today and won on good to firm. She’s tough.”

Considering future plans, the trainer added: “She’s won four of her last five races now and we might just give her a break.

“I know she’s won twice left-handed now, but I do think she’s better right-handed, so we could go back to Kempton or somewhere like that.”

Lad strikes for Skeltons

11/10 favourite Ashtown Lad produced a game front-running display to run out an authoritative winner of the bet365 Novices' Hurdle.

Representing Dan and Harry Skelton, he'd chased home Ask A Honey Bee at the opening meeting here and readily opened his account over timber despite the race being run in driving rain.

Between the last two flights both Kearney Hill and Brief Ambition looked dangers but the latter made a mistake while the winner pinged the final hurdle.

That sealed matters and he ran on strongly to score by two-and-three-quarter lengths.

A sodden Dan Skelton said: “He’s a very nice horse and he has a good attitude, obviously, to go from the front in that weather.

“He’s a chaser really and I always felt like this was a good horse. I’m not sure what we’ll do now. I’ll talk to Darren (Yates, owner) and decide.”

Hear No Evil (16/1), formerly with the Skeltons, landed the opening Price Promise At bet365 Handicap Chase.

Now trained in Ireland by Noel Kelly he produced an assured round of jumping under Sean Bowen and stayed on dourly to score by nine-and-a-half lengths.

The winning trainer said: “Decor Irlandais is here, but he pulled off a shoe. It’s a bit frustrating, but at least he didn’t break a tendon or something. It’s only a pulled shoe and it’s not the end of the world.

“We bought this horse (Hear No Evil) out of Dan Skelton’s yard. We said to Sean ‘take your time and if they go too fast, he’ll keeping plugging on’. He gave him a brilliant ride, I thought.”

More Wetherby joy for Clarke

Minella For Me, wearing the colours of owner Simon Clarke who landed the 2010 Charlie Hall Chase with Nacarat, was a game winner of the bet365 Handicap Chase.

Tom George's charge was untidy at the third last under Jonathan Burke but crucially proved foot perfect at the final two fences as 10/3 favourite Guy tried to produce a renewed challenge.

He could never land a telling blow with the 9/1 winner hitting the line five-and-a-half lengths to the good.

Burke said: “He’s a very honest horse. He used to be quite keen, but he’s grown up a lot and is settling well and jumping well. He’s a good, fun horse for his owner Simon, who has been a great supporter of Tom.”

Burke went on to complete a double aboard Jonjo O’Neill’s 4-1 favourite Arrivederci in the concluding bet365 Handicap Hurdle.