Windsor Sunday review and replays: Jingko Blue another winner for Nicky Henderson

Nicky Henderson continued his fine weekend after Jingko Blue moved a step closer to an outing at the Cheltenham Festival when maintaining his unbeaten record over fences in the Hampton Novices’ Chase at Windsor.

Having watched Jonbon secure Grade One glory in the Clarence House Chase and Lulamba enhance his position as Triumph Hurdle favourite at Ascot on Saturday the Seven Barrows was on hand to see Jingko Blue land his biggest success in the re-arranged Grade 2.

After making a triumphant start over fences at Uttoxeter 40 days ago the gelded son of Great Pretender was sent off the 4/9 favourite to add to that tally in the three mile contest which was re-routed from Warwick earlier this month.

Although making a shuddering error at the final fence on the first circuit it failed to halt the momentum of the odds-on favourite, who tracked the early pace set by Lowry's Bar for much of the race.

The complexion of the race changed as Lowry's Bar blundered his chances away at three out leaving the six year old gelding to move into a lead he would not surrender approaching to the second last.

Meeting the last on a good stride, Jingko Blue continued to press on up the run in before going on to score by two and a quarter lengths and give Henderson his first winner back at the track since jump racing returned to the course last month.

Henderson said: “It was a cold sort of race if you know what I mean. It was hard on Friday and I bet that was very hard work today. The ground is not for flashy horses, but I thought he was very good.

“We were hoping he would stay three miles and he looked as if he was the one that might do and we will continue down that road. I think he is going the right way, I’m sure of that. He is a talented horse there is no doubt about that.

“It is rather fun having a winner back here. I’ve been involved with it all since it was originally mooted and it has been an enormous success.”

An outing in the Grade Two Ebony Horse Club Reynoldstown Novices’ Chase at Ascot on February 15 is next on the agenda for Jingko Blue ahead of a tilt at the Grade 1 Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.

Henderson said: “This was never the plan and they suggested they might put this race on. It was a great effort and appreciated. We weren’t really prepared for today as we were waiting for the Reynoldstown as it was the only race left in the calendar over three miles.

“I think there is every chance he would go to the Reynoldstown then on to Cheltenham. Having a chat with Nico (de Boinville), he is happy to do that."

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Gavin Sheehan delivered Guard Duty with a peach of a ride to win the Winter Million Novices' Handicap Hurdle.

Having held Emma Lavelle's charge up right at the back of the field in the early stages, Sheehan brought his mount with a well-timed run in the final half-mile of the race and came to take up the running soon after the final. The 11/2 chance skipped clear to win by four lengths from Hartington.

Sheehan said on Sky Sports Racing: "I think the race worked out for me. When I was going to the last I thought I might have got there too soon. He's not a great jumper but he's a horse with a serious amount of ability."

Lavelle said: "It's not easy by the looks of things, the way races are being run here, to come from off the pace. He's not been easy and his jumping hasn't been the sharpest, but Gavin gave him a lovely ride and it's lovely to show everyone the potential he's always shown us at home.

"We did a lot of jumping with him the other day and Gavin has benefited from that today."

Liam Harrison gave his season a timely boost when producing Titan Discovery with expert timing to land the Weatherbys Racing Bank Handicap Hurdle.

With winners proving hard to come by for the 22-year-old this campaign, victory aboard the Robbie Llewellyn-trained gelding in the three-mile contest was a much needed success.

Victory looked to be heading the way of Push The Button, who was bidding to complete a quick fire double for trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies. However, having appeared to have seen off every challenger from the front the 16/1 chance was reeled back in by Titan Discovery, who swept by almost on the line before prevailing by a head.

Harrison said of the 11/2 winner: “The owners are a great bunch and there are a good few of them here. They have been very patient with the horse. They have had some fun days already, but this one tops it off.

“This season has been tough, but things are picking up now. You are always looking for a horse like him. He gave me two good days last season and to get one on him like that today I’m delighted.

“There wasn’t a lot of pace on paper and I knew dropping him in wasn’t going to be easy as we are still working the track out a bit.

“I learnt plenty about him in the Silver Trophy, but you have got to ride your horse on the day and thankfully it has worked out today.

“Robbie had an unbelievable season last time and it is hard to keep that going, but he had a good winner this week and they are running well now. He is a very good trainer. The good thing about him is I’ve won three on now further than a length so there should be more to come.”

Planned Paradise erased trainer Christian Williams' concerns of seeing out marathon trips when slugging it best of them all in the Fitzdares Windsor Stayers Handicap Chase.

Often the man with the Midas touch when it comes to staying chasers, the Bridgend handler worked his magic once again with the ultra consistent nine-year-old.

Having been pulled-up on his previous start at Fakenham, the gelded son of Westerner arrived needing to revive his fortunes to have a say in matters. However, despite being sent off an unfancied 25/1 chance, Planned Paradise rallied to the cause in game fashion late on when proving three and a half lengths too strong for 11/5 favourite Fortunate Man.

Williams said: “He was 20 lengths behind after the second fence at Fakenham the other day and I don’t really know what happened.

“He is a wonderful horse and this is great for his owners. We trained him for the first two meetings at Cheltenham and he was unlucky not to win his second one there as he stumbled after the last, but he still ran a blinder.

“This race was a bit of an afterthought to try and support the meeting, but it is wonderful to have runners here.

“I wasn’t quite sure he stayed as we ran him in the Norfolk National at Fakenham in May. Harry Cobden rode him and didn’t quite think he stayed, but he saw it out well enough today. He is an older horse and we are just happy to win today.”

Harry Fry concluded what has been a successful Berkshire Winter Million after Idaho Sun brightened up a gloomy day when doubling his tally in the Fitzdares Berkshire Winter Million Open National Hunt Flat Race.

Having saddled Gidleigh Park to Grade Two glory at the track on Friday and Altobelli on day two at Ascot, Fry made it three winners in as many days thanks to the improving five-year-old.

Making a winning debut at Newton Abbot in October the gelded son of Idaho had no problems in following that success up in the concluding two mile prize under Bryan Carver.

Pressing on down the home straight in the dash to the line the 7/2 chance was not for stopping out in front after crossing the line with three and three quarter lengths to spare over rules debutant Kocktail Bleu.

He added: “He really impressed us on his debut and the form was there to see. The runner-up (Supreme Malinas) ran well here again today after winning a Listed bumper and the third horse has come out and won easily at Fontwell on Boxing Day.

“We knew that he would improve. We were going to go to Ascot before Christmas, but he wasn’t quite right in November so we had to be patient.

“This was a lovely race to aim at so I’m delighted to see him take another step forward in a deeper race today. I love the way he travelled through the race and ran right through the line.

"This is what we all dream about young horses with lots to look forward to and he certainly fits that bill.”

Although not outlining a firm plan the Grade 1-winning handler admitted that Idaho Sun is likely to be aimed at one of the major spring festivals.

He added: “This was a good race and a good prize. We will see how he comes out of this, but he is a young horse with an exciting future ahead so we will let him tell us when he is ready. I would like to think we will go for one more bumper at one of the festivals in the spring."

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