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

Winning start for Destination

Next Destination made a winning start over fences in the Ladbrokes John Francome Novices' Chase.

A very useful staying novice hurdler for Willie Mullins, he returned from a long absence with a good run in the West Yorkshire Hurdle on his first start for Paul Nicholls last time.

He stripped fitter here and having fenced well, mastered long-time leader Kalooki jumping the second last.

The 11/8 favourite was never seriously threatened from there even though runner-up One For The Team (8/1) stuck to his task well and was only a length-and-a-quarter adrift at the line.

Nicholls said: “It is credit to the team and everyone at home to get him to the course really, as he has had two and half years off. He had severed a front tendon, broken a pelvis and Malcolm sent him to us in June and said ‘if you can get him on the course, it will be a fantastic effort’.

“He went to Wetherby and ran a lot better than we thought to be honest with you. We schooled him over fences and he jumped great and he did that really well. Slower ground will suit him a lot more than today, but it was just about OK today.

“He has got talent and if we can keep him sound, he is a very good horse. We hadn’t had a gallop away before then (Wetherby), so he was going to improve and fitness wise, he will just keep getting better.

“You’ve just got to mind him a fraction with what you do at home. He is a lovely horse. We have just got to space his runs out, look after him and you never know, he could come back here next year for the big one (Ladbrokes Trophy) as he would be the ideal horse for that.

“You would want to mind the ground and you wouldn’t want to run him that often. You could go to Kempton on Boxing Day if the ground was really soft. I’d be bit nervous with a horse like him that has had problems, as you have the grass and the sand there with the all-weather which is not ideal.

“Off the top of my head, the Reynoldstown at Ascot would suit him really well in soft ground. Just winning today, for the horse, everyone involved and the owner being patient, is a bonus as he has done very well.

“He could well be an RSA horse and he will have an entry, but I’d say he would want really nice, soft ground to go there. He does jump a little left handed, so it probably would suit him quite nicely. He would be up there in the mix with horses that can run in the race.”

Betfair, Paddy Power and Sky Bet all make the winner 12/1 from 20s for the RSA Chase at Cheltenham.

"That was a very taking performance from Next Destination on his chasing debut. In what looked a very decent race we now go 12/1 from 20/1 for the RSA Chase in March." said Sky Bet Head of Sports PR Michael Shinners.

Rock flops but Henderson still strikes

Nicky Henderson duly landed the Ladbrokes Committed To Safer Gambling Intermediate Hurdle - but not with favourite Maries' Rock.

She was beaten two out having taken a fierce hold throughout as stablemate Floressa poured on the pressure from the front.

She hurdled brilliantly throughout and was fluent again at the last. That was crucial as The Pink'n (25/1) and Milkwood (5/1) tried to reel her in but the winner had gone beyond recall, scoring by a length-and-a-quarter.

“Reggie Pallas, the lad that looks after this filly and rides her every day, has done a brilliant job as she is not the easiest. I swore she wanted two and a half. The owners were adamant she was a two-miler and they got their way and quite rightly," said Henderson.

“They had a lot of fun with her last year and Jerry McGrath has given her a super front-running ride. Reggie and the owners must take most the credit.

“She is a hot-headed lady, like most of the good ones are, and we put one of those red hoods on, but it made no difference.

“It’s amazing to think this was the race that Epatante started off on 137 last year and she was off 141.”

Steel speed seals prize

Flash Of Steel produced a smart turn of foot to win the Get Your Ladbrokes 1 Free Bet Today Handicap Hurdle.

Sent off a 12/1 chance for Dan and Harry Skelton, he was turned out quickly after falling at Haydock last weekend.

Clearly none the worse for those exertions he was last off the bridle here and then held on well when pressed by Amour De Nuit (16/1) to win by a length-and-three-quarters.

Trainer Dan Skelton said: “We were frustrated with that (Haydock) as he jumped the jump and almost forgot to put his legs out.

“We jumped him twice in the week and we were happy with him and if we weren’t, we wouldn’t have brought him.

“His work at home was very good and I went to Haydock full of excitement, but coming here today, backing up that quick, you never really know, but he has done it really well.

“I’m going to try him in the Relkeel on New Year’s Day. It’s a step back up to Graded company and he doesn’t carry a penalty.”

Cap fits for Williams

Cap Du Nord (6/1) came from last to first to run out a ready winner of the Sir Peter O'Sullevan Memorial Handicap Chase.

Jack Tudor nursed Christian Williams' charge into the race as eventual third Mellow Ben threatened to lead the field a merry dance up front.

However jumping the second last the winner had him in his sights and he eased clear from the last for a five lengths success.

Canelo ran on late to snatch the forecast spot but never looked like getting to the winner.

“They went fast early on and we always thought he would stay very well," Tudor said.

“I thought I was a bit far back down the back, but they went such a good gallop I thought they would stop turning in. He passed a few horses, locked on and then he took off and won nicely in the end.

“I knew they were going fast as he is quite a good travelling horse and I was flat out the whole way. He ran well in the race last year and it is nice to win it this year.”

Fab four for Pink Sheets

Pink Sheets ran her rivals ragged to win the opening Play Ladbrokes 5-A-Side On Football Mares' Novices' Hurdle and complete a four-timer for the Mick Quinn team.

The 10/1 chance saw off the early attentions of Champagne Terri and jumping the second last it was clear her rivals were in real trouble.

Miss Hyde fleetingly tried to close her down but she was soon a spent force as Jack Quinlan's mount bounded to the line to score by three-and-a-half lengths.

Ahorsewithnoname (9/2) came through for second but this one a one-horse race from some way out.

"Shes just improved every race this year. She deserved to take her chance in this grade and Jack schooled her on Wednesday and felt, even only 19 days after he last run, she'd strengthened up and full of herself. She doesn't have to front run, she's happy to bowl along and jumping wise jumps from hurdle to hurdle," said the winning trainer.

"She keeps surprising me and this opens up a few avenues now. She put these to bed quite convincingly and we'll keep to our own sex and see what's around. I don't think she'd want genuine winter ground."

Pink Sheets was introduced at 20-1 for the Dawn Run Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival by Paddy Power and Betfair.