Sky Bet Supreme Trial Rossington Main Novices' Hurdle |
 |
| Grade 2, Haydock Park 13:30 £22,500 added, 4yo plus, 1m 7f 144y, Class 1  |
|
| Saturday 23rd January 2021 | |
1 Faivoir 7/1
2 Minella Drama 9/4
3 Nada To Prada 5/1
5 ran Distances: nk, 13l, 4¾l
Time: 4m 7.22s (slow by 28.22s)
🚀🚀🚀
— ITV Racing (@itvracing) January 23, 2021
Faivoir reels in Minella Drama on the line to win the Sky Bet Supreme Trial Rossington Main Novices' Hurdle#ITVRacing pic.twitter.com/IMRX2ASWxJ
The Donald McCain yard has been in flying form this year and always do well at Haydock, so it was no surprise to see Minella Drama make a bold bid as he tried to land a hat-trick under Sam Twiston-Davies.
It looked for all money like he'd get home in the final furlong, but Bridget Andrews nudged and cajoled Faivoir into contention from off the pace and just got there to win by a neck.
The pair were 13 lengths clear of the third with the 13/8 favourite, Llandinabo Lad, most disappointing and he finished last of the five runners.
The bookmakers didn't feel the performance would have too much of a bearing on the Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, quoting the winner at 25s for the meeting's curtain raiser.
Sky Bet spokesman Michael Shinners said: "That was a really game performance from Falvoir who just got the better of Minella Drama. The front two pulled well clear and with this in mind we are 25/1 for the Sky Bet Supreme."
Betfair cut the winner to 12s from 20s for the Betfair Hurdle at Newbury in February, where he'll run under a 5lb penalty.
Andrews said: “I’m delighted for the horse and the owners. He has been brilliant for me as I’m four from four on him now. I didn’t know if he would be good enough today.
“He travelled really strongly and I thought I’d done too much. On this ground the trip is fine. You see today he travelled almost too well but we were keen to jump him up out there. I think he is happier when he is carting you along a bit but the trip is fine for the moment but there is no doubt in time he will want further.
“He is still quite green and he has probably got an awkward way of going. He did lug in behind a bit but when I pulled him upsides I was away then.
“I don’t know what Dan has got planned for him. We tried him in a handicap around Sandown and I don’t think he liked the hustle and bustle. This was ideal, five runners. He might go to Cheltenham if the owners want to have a crack and there would be no harm, but he will be a nice horse for next year.”
Sky Bet Supreme Trial Novices' Hurdle
(Registered As The Rossington Main Novices' Hurdle) (Grade 2)
£22,500 added, 4yo plus, 1m 7f 144y, Class 1
5 ran
Going: Heavy
1 Faivoir 6 11-4 Dan Skelton Bridget Andrews 7/1
2 nk Minella Drama 6 11-4 Donald McCain Sam Twiston-Davies 9/4
3 13 Nada To Prada 6 11-2 Michael Scudamore Richard Patrick 5/1
4 4¾ Anythingforlove 6 10-11 Jamie Snowden Gavin Sheehan 10/1
5 3 Llandinabo Lad 6 11-9 Tom Symonds Nico de Boinville 13/8F
