Bathwick Tyres Kingwell Hurdle
Grade 2, Wincanton 15:35 £60,000 added, 4yo plus, 2m, Class 1
Saturday 14th February 2015

1 Blue Heron 3/1
2 Irving 11/10F
3 Hint Of Mint 9/1
6 ran Distances: 6l, 9l, 17l
TIME 3m 50.80s (slow by 19.80s)

Blue Heron holds off Irving with ease to win the Kingwell Hurdle

Blue Heron franks the Christmas Hurdle form for Champion Hurdle favourite Faugheen

Blue Heron
© Racehorse Photos

Blue Heron gave Faugheen's Champion Hurdle hopes a boost when causing a minor surprise in the Bathwick Tyres Kingwell Hurdle at Wincanton.

Faugheen had Blue Heron fully 17 lengths back in third when running away with the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton, but Dan Skelton's charge had his own moment of glory in this Grade Two contest at the Somerset track.

Harry Skelton went for home some way out on the seven-year-old, trained by his brother, and then outbattled Irving, who was sent off the 11-10 favourite.

Nick Scholfield tried to nip Irving up on the inside rail in the straight coming to two out, but Skelton kept the door shut on the 3-1 winner.

Irving's run petered out and Blue Heron stormed clear to win by six lengths. Hint Of Mint was nine lengths further away in third, while Sign Of A Victory was a big disappointment as he weakened out of contention before two out.

Quoted on his website, Paul Nicholls said: "It was disappointing to see Irving put in his place by Blue Heron in the Kingwell Hurdle. It looked as if he got a bit tired in the ground and strictly on that performance it would make no sense to take him to Cheltenham for the Champion Hurdle. First though, I will be talking to his owners before making a decision."

Bathwick Tyres Kingwell Hurdle (Grade 2)
£60,000 added, 4yo plus, 2m, Class 1
6 ran
Going: Soft, Good to Soft in places