BetBright Genius Adonis Juvenile Hurdle
Grade 2, Kempton Park 13:50 £30,000 added, 4yo only, 2m, Class 1
Saturday 25th February 2017

1 Master Blueyes 13/2
2 Evening Hush 6/1
3 Fidux 12/1
10 ran Distances: 11l, 4l, 3¼l
Time: 3m 50.10s (slow by 8.10s)

Master Blueyes wins for trainer Alan King as Charli Parcs falls

Master Blueyes
© Racehorse Photos

Charli Parcs proved a major disappointment as he crashed out at the penultimate flight.

Nicky Henderson's charge was an impressive winner on his debut at the Sunbury venue in December and was sent off the 8-15 favourite to supplement that success in this Grade Two heat.

However, Barry Geraghty was pushing along from someway out aboard Charli Parcs and while he was trying to get back on terms with Evening Hush on the approach to the second-last, he got the obstacle all wrong.

That left Evening Hush clear in front but Master Blueyes (13-2) was staying on strongly for Tom Bellamy and Alan King's charge found plenty to jump the final hurdle with a clear lead, eventually pulling 11 lengths clear at the line.

Evening Hush was left toiling in his wake but held on for second, with the winner's stablemate Fidux a further four lengths back in third.

Bellamy, who was substituting for the sidelined Wayne Hutchinson, was thrilled with the winner's performance.

He said: "He was impressive and it all went to plan. I think I had the Henderson horse beaten when he fell.

"To be fair to my lad, he went away and did it professionally - he didn't look around. He has just been keen in the past, but he settled supremely well.

"It is definitely up there (as one of my biggest wins). I love riding big winners for the boss. It is a shame for Wayne Hutchinson as he missed one today and one yesterday, but it is just one of those things."

King was suitably impressed and Master Blueyes now looks likely to the tackle the Triumph Hurdle at next month's Cheltenham Festival.

The trainer said: "I've never known a horse to come on so much from Ludlow. It just gave him confidence. We were never going to come here.

"Last week I rang one of the members of the syndicate saying we are going to the Adonis to see if he is a Triumph Hurdle horse, and he most definitely is. I've just been thrilled with him the last week to 10 days.

"When he got beat at Christmas by Charli Parcs, he had just come back from a hold up as he pulled a muscle when he ran at Wetherby.

"We know he is progressive and better ground helps as well. The favourite looked in a bit of bother anyway.

"We didn't have a proper Triumph Hurdle horse and I think we've found one. It is great for Tom Bellamy, he gave him a lovely ride."

Adonis Juvenile Hurdle (Grade 2)
£30,000 added, 4yo only, 2m, Class 1
10 ran
Going: Good, Good to Soft in places