Paul Nicholls hopes McFabulous may eventually be a Stayers' Hurdle contender after he registered an emphatic win in the European Breeders Fund Paddy Power "National Hunt" EBF Novices' Handicap Hurdle at Kempton.
Winner of the Grade Two bumper at Aintree last season, McFabulous suffered a shock defeat on his hurdles bow before then finding Master Debonair far too good when last of four in a Supreme trial at Ascot back in December.
But he hit the target at Market Rasen last month, and punters were confident he could supplement that win stepped back up to Grade Three level.
Sent off the 5/2 favourite, McFabulous was always travelling well for Harry Cobden, settled on the rail on the heels of pacesetter Eden Du Houx.
Turning for home, Cobden was clearly in control, and McFabulous jumped his way to the front at the penultimate flight as Eden Du Houx dropped away.
Sevarano tried to put up a challenge, but McFabulous was just too good - taking the final flight with a couple of lengths in hand before pulling away on the run to the line.
🍔 Mcfabulous is another valuable winner for Nicholls
— Sporting Life (@SportingLife) March 14, 2020
Fair to say a mark of 132 underestimated him 👀
📹 This race works out and he'll be winning more, surely...pic.twitter.com/wGwIt3jI7Z
He came home six and a half lengths clear of Sevarano, with Hurricane Harvey snatching third from Eden Du Houx in the shadow of the post.
The two-mile-five-furlong series final was due to be run at Sandown last week, but that meeting was called off because of a waterlogged track.
Nicholls admitted after the race the cancellation of that card had worked in McFabulous' favour.
He said: "It's ended up being a bonus last week was off, because that would have been stiff enough, but today was perfect.
"He got a lovely mark at Market Rasen; he jumped great today and should shape up into a very good staying hurdler.
"We'll look for a Grade One over two and a half miles, but he could be a Stayers' Hurdle horse one day."
Nicholls had earlier taken the opening Paddy Power From The Horse's Mouth Podcast Novices' Hurdle with 5/2 chance Fidelio Vallis.
Owned by John Hales, just like Wednesday's Champion Chase hero Politologue, this five-year-old made most of the running to win by almost four lengths from Fugitives Drift (9/2).
✅ Paul Nicholls, John Hales
— Sporting Life (@SportingLife) March 14, 2020
🍰 Icing, meet cake...pic.twitter.com/nfXTfvve5G
The form of On The Slopes' Cheltenham third in January could hardly have worked out better, with the two horses who finished ahead of him having both won at the Festival last week, and Chris Gordon's charge went in again in the Paddy Power Novices' Limited Handicap Chase.
🏇 This formline: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/7Yzl6bJq2h
— Sporting Life (@SportingLife) March 14, 2020
On The Slopes had demonstrated the value of that form line himself when getting off the mark over fences here last month, and he rallied well to beat Return Ticket and land a few bets having been backed from an overnight 7/4 into a strong 11/10.
The Paddy Power Silver Plate Handicap Hurdle went to Our Power, who stepped up on a couple of decent efforts to win for Nigel Twiston-Davies and son Sam.
Favourite Downtown Getaway took up a prominent position too for trainer Nicky Henderson and jockey Nico de Boinville in the two-mile-five-furlong heat, pressing Cervaro Mix all the way to the penultimate flight when he dropped away.
Cervaro Mix also started to feel the heat at that point, just as Our Power made his challenge to grab the lead before the last.
While The Butcher Said tried to make up ground late and was staying on all the way to the line, Our Power dug deep to prevail by a length and three-quarters. Bootlegger took third, with Ballyhome fourth at 20/1.
The winning trainer said: "He was balloted out of the Martin Pipe, but this race was better and went beautifully for him.
"We had no joy this week. Riders Onthe Storm was in with a chance when he fell, but it was too far out to say he was unlucky.
"Bristol De Mai couldn't bully them in the Gold Cup, but he's in good form today and will run in the Grand National."
Sporting Life columnist Daryl Jacob timed things to perfection as 25/1 shot Delire D'Estruval won the Paddy Power Silver Bowl Handicap Chase.
Delire D'Estruval defies a big weight and proves best at 25-1 in the £40,000 @paddypower Silver Bowl Handicap Chase.
— Kempton Park (@kemptonparkrace) March 14, 2020
Congratulations to @dazjacob10, @benpauling1 and Simon Munir and Isaac Souede pic.twitter.com/rqPjGY9B9x
Nicholls had to settle for second in the Paddy's Rewards Club Novices' Hurdle as Up The Straight made it two wins in four starts over obstacles.
Third behind subsequent Sky Bet Supreme winner, Shiskin, when last seen, Richard Rowe's horse stepped up on that to win by two lengths under James Davies.
