E-Lites Top Novices' Hurdle |
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| Grade 2, Aintree 14:15 £60,000 added, 4yo plus, 2m 110y, Class 1  |
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| Friday 10th April 2015 | |
1 Cyrus Darius 8/1
2
Vago Collonges 7/1
3 Qewy 5/1
11 ran Distances: 10l, 1¾l, 10l
TIME 4m 0.10s (slow by 7.10s)
Cyrus Darius bolts up in the E-Lites Top Novices' Hurdle
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The E-Lites Top Novices' Hurdle winner Cyrus Darius has his trainer Malcolm Jefferson dreaming of big things ahead in the chasing ranks after the six-year-old posted an impressive 10-length victory at Aintree.
The Yorkshire-based trainer said: "It's always hard to chuck them in at the deep end but yesterday morning when I looked at what was going to run, I thought that there's always a chance that the favourite might not run to his form and then the rest of them were much of a muchness on ratings.
"I rang Brian [Hughes, jockey] and he was thinking we should go to Perth but I thought 'Bugger it', as this was going to be his last run of the season anyhow. He's going to grass now so I thought we'd take our chance."
Asked of his thoughts for what the future holds for Cyrus Darius, who earned a quote of 20/1 for next year's Arkle Trophy following his Liverpool rout, Jefferson added: "I dream about all sorts of things but often they end up as nightmares!
"So we'll just leave him at grass and see what next season brings - he'll go novice chasing next season. He's just a lovely big horse who travels really well. I'd love to have a good two-mile chaser and he could be the one. He's very nimble for a big horse and we've schooled him over fences."
E-Lites Top Novices' Hurdle (Grade 2)
£60,000 added, 4yo plus, 2m 110y, Class 1
11 ran
Going: Good to Soft, Good in places
| Pos | Dist | Horse SP | Jockey Weight | Trainer | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Cyrus Darius 8/1 | B Hughes 11-4 |
J M Jefferson | 6 | |
| 2nd | 10 | Vago Collonges (FR) 7/1 | Sam Twiston-Davies 11-4 |
P F Nicholls | 6 |
| 3rd | 1¾ | Qewy (IRE) 5/1 | A P McCoy 11-4 |
J P Ferguson | 5 |
| 4th | 10 | Glingerburn (IRE) 7/4f | B P Harding 11-4 |
N G Richards | 7 |
| 5th | 1½ | Cardinal Walter (IRE) 8/1 | A Tinkler 11-4 |
N J Henderson | 6 |
| 6th | 30 | Jolly's Cracked It (FR) 8/1 | N D Fehily 11-4 |
H Fry | 6 |
| 7th | 10 | Montdragon (FR) 50/1 | R P McLernon 11-4 |
Jonjo O'Neill | 5 |
| 8th | 17 | Trader Jack 100/1 | Stephen Craine 11-4 |
D Flood | 6 |
| 9th | 91 | Dabadiyan (IRE) 66/1 | Joshua Moore 11-4 |
G L Moore | 5 |
| F | Endless Credit (IRE) 25/1 | Joe Colliver 11-4 |
Micky Hammond | 5 | |
| UR | Commissioned (IRE) 10/1 | R Johnson 11-4 |
J P Ferguson | 5 |
HUGHES EXCITED BY CYRUS DARIUS
Jockey Brian Hughes rode his second winner at the 2015 Crabbie's Grand National Festival when Cyrus Darius landed the E-Lites Top Novices' Hurdle.
The 8/1 winner, who is trained by Malcolm Jefferson at Malton in Yorkshire, added to Hughes' triumph yesterday on 33/1 shot Surf And Turf in the Betfred Red Rum Handicap Chase.
Hughes, who is aiming for a maiden century of winners in one season and who took his tally to 99 with today's success, said of Cyrus Darius: "He's won two races in the North in a hack canter, and while we were umming and ahhing about coming here Malcolm made a good shout and it's paid off. He's a big, strapping horse and will make a better chaser we hope.
"He jumped and travelled well today, and while it took me a bit of time to settle him it's a big atmosphere for young horses and he was just a bit keen. Once he settled and got into a rhythm I was confident he would run well and from turning in I realised they were going to struggle to get by me.
"He's not a horse that gets worked up, but he's raw and it's a warm day. On the whole, considering it was only his third run over hurdles, he coped with it well and there's a lot of improvement in him.
"We've already schooled him over fences and he coped fine. I should think we will give him another pop [over fences] before he goes out for summer grass."
GLINGERBURN 'OVER THE TOP'
Trainer Nicky Richards was not too unhappy with the performance of 7/4 favourite Glingerburn, who finished fourth behind Cyrus Darius this afternoon.
The seven-year-old was never jumping with any fluency early in the race and his jockey, Brian Harding, was sending out distress signals a long way from home. The son of King's Theatre was eventually beaten 21 and three quarter lengths.
"He's fine," said Richards.
"He just couldn't get in that rhythm today. I had to miss last season with him and this season I got him in early and he's had a nice, long, steady preparation.
"I'm not making excuses about anything, I may not have won, but I'd say he was over the top there. He's still a good horse though - as is the winner."
John Ferguson, trainer of third-placed Qewy, who was beaten 11 and three quarter lengths, said: "We're delighted with the way he ran. We'll give him a good holiday now - he's been on the go for a long time."
