Newcastle review: Yorkhill comes good at 66s in Rehearsal Chase

Yorkhill a 66/1 stunner

Yorkhill, part-owned by golfer Lee Westwood, finally came good again as he landed the Betfair Exchange Rehearsal Handicap Chase at 66/1 for Sandy Thomson at Newcastle on Saturday.

A four-time Grade One winner when with Willie Mullins, including twice at the Cheltenham Festival, he hadn't looked like reclaiming former glories in any of his last seven starts, failing to finish in five of them.

Pulled up on his stable debut for Thomson in the Old Roan Chase at Aintree last month, hopes weren't high he could finally get his head in front again here, hence the starting price.

He got into a nice rhythm up front under Ryan Mania, though, in a first-time tongue-tie, and saw off all challengers, hanging on to beat Whatmore and Cool Mix in incredible fashion.

Thomson said: “Dave (Armstrong, owner) said to Ryan to go out and make it – it was his call and he loved it. We were really happy with him coming into the race. He had an away day on Thursday and loved it.

“Harry The Viking (ex-Paul Nicholls, Borders National winner) was the model to go against to freshen these old horses up, you just fiddle away with them to get them right.

“He did a nice gallop at Carlisle two weeks ago and today he was brilliant. At 10 he’s just a youngster!”

Yorkhill was introduced into the Grand National betting at 50/1 by Betfair, while Thomson and Mania had earlier been on the mark with progressive seven-year-old The Ferry Master (6/1) who made it two wins from three starts over fences with victory in the nationwidevehiclecontracts.co.uk Novices' Limited Handicap Chase.

Round round, Getaround

Getaround and Bryan Carver hung on to deny the rallying Ask A Honey Bee in the Newcastle Flooring 'The French Furze' Novices' Hurdle.

Ella Pickard's Getaround was having his fifth hurdles start and he made most of that experience, leading for much of the way as he repelled all challengers - although only just in the end.

The 10/1 chance looked set to win quite comfortably as he was in command in the final furlong, but the 11/10 favourite Ask A Honey Bee gained a late second wind and was only just denied by a head at the line after a late rattle.

Tupelo Mississippi and Small Present were third and fourth respectively.

“We always thought he wanted better ground,” said Pickard.

“It was a really good ride from Bryan, who has ridden him all the way through.

“We’ll look to step back up in class again now, this was one of the last chances for him to run as a novice, so it was important to get more experience into him.

“It took seven hours to get here, but you’ve got to go where the races are.

“We’ve got about 15 horses in, but this would be the biggest winner.”

Ascot win for Ewart

James Ewart’s Ascot De Bruyere notched up a fourth win at Gosforth Park with a pillar-to-post success in the D J Jeffreys Racing Handicap Chase.

Running for the first time since a wind operation, champion jockey Brian Hughes got him jumping elaborately out in front and he never looked like being caught.

Ewart said: “He’s a lovely horse and everyone knows he’s a Newcastle specialist and that’s his fourth win here now.

“His best performance was actually over two and a half miles, so I said to Brian to make sure he made plenty of use of him today as I was actually worried the ground might be too good.

“Last year he had lots of little issues and it was the first season we’ve had him we didn’t win a race with him.”

Ewart later doubled up with the Rachael McDonald-ridden Fostered Phil (4/1)

King sees Red win under Jacob

Alan King tends to find a smart juvenile or two each year and Son Of Red made a winning transition from the Flat in the opening Alnorthumbria Veterinary Group Introductory Juvenile Hurdle.

Rated 66 on the Flat, he needed every yard of the trip to reel in the front-running State Crown, who had the benefit of experience.

Winning rider Daryl Jacob said: “That was a nice performance, he ground it out for me. He’s a lovely jumper, as you get from Alan King, and I was very impressed. That was his first run over hurdles and, please god, he’ll keep improving.”