Warwick Races: Kimberlite Candy enters Aintree reckoning with Classic Chase rout for Tom Lacey

THERE was a sweet treat for Tom Lacey at Warwick as his Kimberlite Candy bolted up in the 75,000 Classic Chase.

Owned by racing powerhouse JP McManus, the well-punted 9-2 fancy shot into Grand National contention with a ten length rout.

Bookies were impressed and Betway cut the improving eight-year-old into 20-1 for the big one at Aintree.

It was a red-letter day for Lacey who admitted it was up there with one of the best days hes had in racing.

He smiled: Its huge to have a big winner for JP. Hes an incredible man and were honoured to have horses for him.

I suppose this is up there with the the better days Ive had, hes been with us since a three-year-old and this means a lot.

Captain Chaos set a relentless gallop up top under Harry Skelton and only the hardy were staying strong at the end.

Skeltons mount plugged on for second, with Fergal OBriens Petite Power a much improved third.

But none were in the league of Laceys star stayer and there might as well have been two different races.

When you train horses in the famous green and gold colours, any trainer is reluctant to call the shots, but all roads surely lead to Merseyside now.

Lacey added: Hes never backed up a solid run before and it was a concern but hes done it now. Hes a different horse this year.

Even at home he takes his work a lot better and is always in behind the bridle, that was never possible before. Hes the finished article now.

Well definitely see about Aintree, its definitely an option, but it will have to be soft ground for him. He needed to go up to get in the National and he should get that for this.

Kim Bailey enjoyed a much needed winner as Two For Gold landed a poignant success in the Grade 2 Hampton Novices Chase.

His brave novice battled under a typical David Bass ride to get the better of Hold The Note.

Bailey said: I thought we were getting beat after the last but hes so tough, the problem is hes not the quickest.

Im absolutely thrilled though, the owners have been with me for a long while – they had Rainbow Hunter for the National, Oli Bell is involved and they are a great bunch.

Dermot Clancy was one of the main guys and unfortunately he died just before Christmas, so its a poignant success and it would have been wonderful had he been here.

Baileys stable has been under a bit of a cloud of late so a Saturday winner was more than welcome.

He added: Its been a really difficult time. Weve had quite a few horses not right and heaps of placed horses.

We had the favourite beat at Wetherby today and we went to Huntingdon yesterday with what we thought was a good thing before that was called off.

The yard needed a winner and thankfully weve had a good one here!

Sam Twiston-Davies was at his best to get Mossy Fen up in the Grade 2 Leamington Novices Hurdle.

Dad Nigel was nowhere to be seen at Warwick, but his gutsy hurdler wanted it more to shatter Northern Irish raider Decor Irlandais dreams.

The winning rider said: Hes very tough, Id love to see what he can do over a bit further on better ground but I cant complain with that today. It didnt go to plan for whatever reason last time so its good to get him back on track here.

We cant wait to get him jumping fences, thats where his future lies. Im sure Dad will enter him up all over the place and well go from there but the owners and Willy bought him for the long-term and thats still what we have to think of.

You can see for yourself hes a big, strapping horse and this was never going to really be his game so its great to win a Grade 2.