Skybet Supreme Novices' Hurdle Trial |
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| Grade 2, Cheltenham 15:30 £50,000 guaranteed, 4yo plus, 2m 150yds, Class 1  |
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1 Fennor Cross 3/1
2 Ukantango 12/1
3
Springwell Bay 2/1F
8 ran NR: Father Of Jazz
Distances: 3½l, 3¼l, 4¼l Time: 4m 0.04s (slow by 11.04s)
Fennor Cross stayed on strongly to land the spoils in the @Skybet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle Trial under Simon Torres for @McConnellRacing @CheltenhamRaces pic.twitter.com/9GffziP3hF https://t.co/CtBd5HnXjD via @RacingBetter
— RacingBetter (@RacingBetter) November 13, 2022
Fennor Cross stayed on strongly to land the spoils under Simon Torres for John McConnell.
In a race where the hurdles were removed in the home straight it was the winner’s fellow Irish raider She Is Electric that was allowed to stride on with the rest of the field willing to bide their time.
The gap was closed as they approached what would be the final flight of hurdles and although She Is Electric left the ground with a narrow advantage it was Olly Murphy’s Ukantango who had edged in front by the time the runners straightened for home.
However, as they bypassed the usual final flight of hurdles, Fennor Cross was just beginning to hit top gear in the hands of Torrens, and he galloped on strongly up the hill to score at 3-1.
The five-year-old was a six-and-a-half-length winner over course and distance during the Showcase meeting last month and quickly added to his laurels while highlighting himself as a possible contender for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle itself back here in March.
QuinnBet introduced him into the market for the Cheltenham Festival opener at 25-1, and McConnell said: “Credit has to go to Andy O’Brien who owns the horse with some of the guys and said, ‘what about this race’. I said we’ll enter and see. The horse is in great form after his win here a couple of weeks ago.
“We were wrong at the weights with some of them, but thought we’d still have a crack at it. He is still improving. When he won the last day Simon said he was still a baby and it was a good performance.
“I don’t know if he is Supreme quality, but it will certainly give us something to think about anyway. Who cares? He won well, he goes on any ground really, so it is something to think about. He is tough and hasn’t missed a beat all year on the Flat and over hurdles.
“He is just a tough horse and very easy to train – if they were all like that it would be a pleasure. He is very relaxed he was lying down in his box all day today, just relaxed, not tired. He could probably drive the lorry for you! He is a pro at that.”
He added: “We’ll see if there is anything around Christmas. This wasn’t the plan until Monday, so we will see what happens. He is probably entitled to a break and maybe brought back for spring ground and maybe back here in March – we’ll see.”
Skybet Supreme Trial Novices' Hurdle
(Registered As The Sharp Novices' Hurdle) (Grade 2)
£50,000 guaranteed, 4yo plus, 2m 87y, Class 1
8 ran
Going: Good
1 Fennor Cross 5 11-2 John C McConnell Simon Torrens 3/1
2 3½ Ukantango 5 11-2 Olly Murphy Sean Bowen 12/1
3 3¼ Springwell Bay 5 11-2 Jonjo O'Neill Jonjo O'Neill Jr 2/1F
4 4¼ She Is Electric 7 11-0 Norman Lee Robbie Geoghegan 103/2
5 18 Desert Friend 6 11-2 Denis Gerard Hogan Jonathan Burke 50/1
6 ¾ Iberico Lord 4 11-2 Nicky Henderson Aidan Coleman 7/2
7 ¾ Fascinating Shadow 4 11-2 John Joseph Hanlon Brian Hughes 22/1
8 21 Deere Mark 5 11-2 Sam Thomas Sam Twiston-Davies 16/1
NR 4 Father Of Jazz 5 11-2 Dan Skelton NON RUNNER
