THYME HILL spiced up the Stayers’ Hurdle division with a mouthwatering performance at Newbury.
Philip Hobbs’ star six-year-old beat a red-hot Long Distance Hurdle field under a cool Richard Johnson ride to put himself firmly in the mix for the big one at Cheltenham in March.
Four-time champion jockey Johnson said that this was Thyme Hill’s acid test as he stepped out of novice company for the first time – and he passed with flying colours.
The early pace was steady but it lifted with a circuit to go as Robbie Power put his foot on the gas aboard the free-going Vision Des Flos.
The big three in the betting, McFabulous, Paisley Park and Thyme Hill each moved strongly into contention approaching the second last, with reigning Stayers’ champ Lisnagar Oscar also in their with a squeak.
But nothing could get Thyme Hill off the bridle and it was left to Paisley Park, having his first run since suffering a heart issue at Cheltenham, to lay down the final challenge.
He tried hard but had to settle for second behind the new kid on the block, who was a length and a half clear at the line. Paisley Park remains favourite at 5-1 for the Stayers with the sponsor Paddy Power, with Thyme Hill now 11-2 (from 12-1).
Earlier on the card, Caribean Boy was red-hot in the Grade 2 Novices’ Chase.
Nicky Henderson’s grey was the outsider of the three-runner field at 10-3, but he galloped Fiddlerontheroof and Getaway Trump into the ground from the front to win convincingly.
Henderson said: “He was good with his jumping, but he always was to be fair. Unfortunately his novice career got stopped, but at least we were able to go on until now as this was his last day as a novice.
“I think the Ryanair is the obvious race. Daryl doesn’t think we need to go further and he thinks you could bring him back to two and he would step on it even more in heavy ground. I don’t think there is any need to do that as I think two and a half is perfect for him.”
And Paul Nicholls said exciting novice hurdler Bravemansgame would ‘go the Denman route’ after his effortless win under Harry Cobden.
The five-year-old, who cost a fortune at £370,000, will return to Newbury for the Grade 1 Challow Hurdle on December 29.
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https://www.sportingexcitement.com/horse-racing/racehorse-trainer-harriet-graham-battles-on-after-cracking-pelvis-when-run-over-by-own-horsebox-in-scary-ordeal
