Betfair Price Rush Hurdle |
 |
| Haydock Park 13:50 £100,000 added, 4yo plus, 2m 45y, Class 2  |
|
| Saturday 21st November 2015 | |
2 Top Notch 7/4
3 Melodic Rendezvous 7/1
4 ran Distances: 1¼l, 8l, 2¼l
TIME 4m 1.60s
Irving makes hard work of beating Top Notch in conditions 2m hurdle
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The leading pair in a four-runner field served up a terrific finish with Nick Scholfield driving the Paul Nicholls-trained 10-11 favourite home by a length and a quarter.
Top Notch, having his first start since finishing second in the Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham in March, took over pacemaking duties from Melodic Rendezvous after jumping the first flight.
Though Irving was last of the quartet at one stage, he was never that far away and was delivered to challenge two out. Neither of the first two pinged the last, but Irving was away quicker and made his race fitness pay after making a winning seasonal debut at Wincanton two weeks ago.
Scholfield said: "I was probably over-confident if anything, but it was a good performance by the horse. He was clever, he was good at the last."
Nicholls said: "It was a muddling race, but Nick said he was always pretty confident. He takes time to open up, but he's good from the back of the last and did it well in the end.
"He could run again next Saturday if we're happy with him at the end of the week and then we'll give him a break.
"We won't do a lot with him for the next few days and if he does go to Newcastle, we'll probably leave him then until after Christmas.
"There isn't a lot else for him, so we have to think about it (Fighting Fifth)."
Irving was quoted at 7-4 with MansionBet for the Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle on November 28.
Betfair Price Rush Hurdle
£100,000 added, 4yo plus, 2m 45y, Class 2
4 ran
Going: Soft
| Pos | D | Horse SP | Jockey Weight | Trainer | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Irving 10/11f | Nick Scholfield 11-3 |
P F Nicholls | 7 | |
| 2nd | 1¼ | Top Notch (FR) 7/4 | D A Jacob 11-3 |
N J Henderson | 4 |
| 3rd | 8 | Melodic Rendezvous 7/1 | T Scudamore 11-3 |
J Scott | 9 |
| 4th | 2¼ | Fou Et Sage (FR) 25/1 | Harry Skelton 11-1 |
D Skelton | 4 |
