Bold Step opened his account over hurdles in the Royal silks at Plumpton on Monday.
Bailly’s Comet was preferred in the betting but proved no match for the Nicky Henderson-trained winner from the second last hurdle, the six-year-old staying on powerfully to beat his rival by two-and-three-quarter lengths.
“If you’d looked at him beforehand you’d have expected him to need it,” the winning trainer told Sky Sports Racing.
“He had his first run over hurdles right at the end of last season and we went to Hexham. I was actually a bit disappointed that day but then I think the winner came out and won two more straight off the back of it.
Unlimited Replays
of all UK and Irish races with our Race Replays
Discover Sporting Life Plus Benefits
“Our horse then had a break and was in a bit later than some of them and has done well. He’s by an old friend of ours in Scorpion, who would take you back to Might Bite and horses like that.
"He can only improve for today and is a kind horse. I think he’ll stay, most of the family do, and he is very honest. He’d have the size to jump a fence in time, but he’s just been backward, which just goes back to the pedigree more than anything else.”
Jumps Season Stable Tours
More from Sporting Life
- Racecards
- Fast results
- Free bets
- Full results and free video replays
- Horse racing news
- Horse racing tips
- Horse racing features
- Download our free iOS and Android app
- Football and other sports tips
- Podcasts and video content
Safer gambling
We are committed in our support of safer gambling. Recommended bets are advised to over-18s and we strongly encourage readers to wager only what they can afford to lose.
If you are concerned about your gambling, please call the National Gambling Helpline / GamCare on 0808 8020 133.
Further support and information can be found at begambleaware.org and gamblingtherapy.org.
