Ladbrokes Dovecote Novices’ Hurdle |
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| Grade 2,
Kempton Park
15:00 £75,000 guaranteed, 4yo only, 2m, Class 1  |
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1 Tripoli Flyer 5/2
2 Miami Magic 9/5F
3 Celtic Dino 100/30
7 ran NR: Roadlesstravelled
Distances: 7½l, 5½l, 11l Time: 3m 56.00s (slow by 15.00s)
A lovely ride from @JohnnyBurke2 rounding off with a clearcut success in the @Ladbrokes Dovecote Novices' Hurdle, driven home for the @FOBRacing team 🥇 pic.twitter.com/dv6kNg4Oh8
— Kempton Park Racecourse (@kemptonparkrace) February 22, 2025
Fergal O’Brien’s Tripoli Flyer always traveled strongly and had matters well in hand as he and market leader Miami Magic both got in tight to the last. The favourite’s chance was further compromised by a stumble on landing, but in truth, Tripoli Flyer already had his measure. Galloping on relentlessly to the line, he put seven and a half lengths between himself and the runner-up, prompting Betfair to slash his Supreme Novices’ Hurdle odds from 40-1 to 16-1.
“He’s got a serious engine,” said O’Brien. “Johnny (Burke) said he can ride him wherever he wants in a race, and he’s got that turn of foot when you need it. He maybe could have waited longer, but he got the job done—and that’s what we came here for.”
O’Brien admitted to a few nerves mid-race but was full of praise for the way his charge opened up in the straight. “Coming from Musselburgh, I was hopeful, but it wasn’t easy to watch him down the back. Once he straightened up, though, he was very good.”
Looking ahead, the trainer was clear on conditions that would suit best. “He’s so laid-back and has the right temperament for a proper two-miler. Johnny said he switches on instantly when asked. I do think he’s better going right-handed and wouldn’t want soft ground, but he’s done plenty now and absolutely deserves a crack at the Supreme.”
Ladbrokes Dovecote Novices' Hurdle
£75,000 guaranteed, 4yo plus, 2m, Class 1
8 ran
Going: Good to Soft, Soft in places
POS. DIST HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER JOCKEY SP
1 Tripoli Flyer 6 11-8 Fergal O'Brien Jonathan Burke 5/2
2 7½ Miami Magic 6 11-5 Stuart Edmunds Charlie Hammond 9/5F
3 5½ Celtic Dino 6 11-8 Sam Thomas Dylan Johnston 100/30
4 11 Blues Singer 5 11-5 Alan King James Bowen 125/1
5 16 Andashan 5 11-5 Chris Gordon Rex Dingle 12/1
6 44 Starcrossed Lover 6 11-5 Neil Mulholland Conor O'Farrell 14/1
PU
Roysse 6 11-5 Ben Pauling Ben Jones 15/2
NR Roadlesstravelled 6 11-10 Jonjo & A J O'Neill WITHDRAWN
