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Taquin De Seuil Takes Challow Hurdle
29/12/12

1 Taquin Du Seuil 13/8F
2 Easter Day 9/2
3 Ballybough Pat 5/1
6 ran Distances: 9l, 3¾l, 45l
TIME 5m 58.36s (slow by 64.36s)

Taquin De Seuil graduated to Grade One level with a comfortable victory in Newbury's Betfred Mobile Sports Challow Novices' Hurdle on December 29.

Taquin Du Seuil
© Racehorse Photos

Jonjo O'Neill's charge sat in last place in the early stages as Tony McCoy was happy to bide his time, with Ballybough Pat setting a very steady pace up front. He was still in front three flights from home but Taquin De Seuil was travelling noticeably well in company with his main market rival Clondaw Kaempfer.

However, the latter was under pressure after jumping that hurdle and soon fell away, being pulled up before the penultimate flight. That left Easter Day to battle it out with Taquin De Seuil and while the favourite made slightly hard work of it by running around a bit in front and clattering the last, he still had nine lengths in hand at the line.

Taquin De Seuil was cut to 8-1 from 14s for the Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival but he is now set for a break.

O'Neill said: "He doesn't mind that ground, but I'd say he'd be as good a horse on better ground. He'll have a holiday now and might not run until Cheltenham."

Asked if the Neptune would be the target, O'Neill added: "You'd have to be looking that way."

There was concern for the well-fancied Clondaw Kaempfer, but trainer Donald McCain said: "Jason (Maguire) thought he had gone wrong but he has pulled up OK."

Betfred Mobile Sports Challow Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1)
£30,000 added, 4yo plus, 2m 5f, Class 1
6 ran
Going: Heavy