Hitman (8-13 favourite) landed a first chase success since March 2021 when scoring in the Get Daily Rewards With Betfair Graduation Chase at Haydock Park.
And now he looks set for a mouthwatering clash with stable-mate Bravemansgame in the King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day. Although the latter, who impressed when winning the Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby last month and won this same Haydock contest 12 months ago, is currently the 11-8 favourite with bet365 for the Grade One Christmas cracker, trainer Paul Nicholls feels there is little between his two rising chasers. Hitman was cut to as low as 7-1 from 25-1 with some firms for the King George but was a best-priced 10-1.
Under Harry Coden, the Nicholls-trained six-year-old finally got back on track taking the 2m6f contest by 11 lengths having led from start to finish. Having been narrowly beaten by Riders Onthe Storm in the Old Roan Chase on his seasonal return at Aintree Racecourse and also been runner-up in the Marsh Chase at last season's the Randox Grand National Festival, he went one better stepped up in trip and down in grade at Haydock.
Last year's winner Snow Leopardess among 43 entries for Becher Chase
It was a dominant performance by Hitman and he looks set to bid for Grade One glory again before the year is out.
Nicholls said: "He was a little keen at Aintree the other day. He was a bit fresh. But we let him bowl along in front to day, let him settle. He just gallops and jumps and for a six-year-old rated 160 we have been patient with him. He has run some really good races for a young horse. But he is just becoming the finished article really.
"He has got an entry in the King George and I would say that is where we will be heading. I might give him another couple of entries but I would the plan would be to go to the King George and Harry has got to make up his mind then. He has those decisions before whether he rides Bravemansgame or this fellow. I don't think there is much between them. I think this horse is massively improving and I also think three miles will bring out more improvement.
"I have just waited this now to go this further and he was relentless there. I am really pleased with him. He is very exciting. He is rated 160 and I don't know what Bravemansgame is rated but there is nothing much between them in ratings. And he has run some really good solid races and he is progressive. I am sure there is more improvement. Wherever Bravemansgame finishes, he won't be far away. He certainly isn't a 25-1 shot or whatever he was earlier in the week. It was a good performance."
Hitman is owned by a syndicate that includes former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson and Grand National winner John Hales.
Ferguson said: “That was brilliant. He eased through it and he’s a great jumper so we’re very pleased. I’d hope he could have a good season and the King George would be an exciting thing to aim for – though it depends what Paul thinks as he’s got Bravemansgame as well who’s a terrific horse too. It’s always a good day to have a winner, regardless of the day!”
When asked whether England can win the World Cup in Qatar, the 80 year old replied: “No chance! You think I’d come down here and support England! What I will say is this their best ever chance because they’re fresh. Every World Cup they’ve had to go through a whole season in England and play in the summer. They’re fresh this time, so it’s their best ever chance.”
Tahmuras (13-8 favourite) took the opener at Haydock, the Listed Betfair Weighed In Podcast Newton Novices’ Hurdle, in fine style.
The Paul Nicholls-trained five-year-old, who had won at Chepstow on his hurdling debut, doubled up over the smaller obstacles scoring smartly by five-and-a-half lengths under Harry Cobden.
David Pipe's Sizing Pottsie (15-8), a former Grade Two chase winner when trained by Jessica Harrington, went straight to the front, but was a little awkward early over his hurdles early on as Snake Roll and Tahmuras sat just off the leader. Then as Sizing Pottsie tried to break for home over the final two flights of hurdles, Tahmuras eased through to join the lead. He comfortably moved away from his rivals and scored in the style of an improving young hurdler.
He will now step up into Grade One company for the Tolworth Hurdle at Sandown in the new year on January 7.
Nicholls, who had also saddled 'England' to win the Betfair Race To The World Cup Stakes – a five-furlong charity race run at the start of the day, said: "We had a winner earlier with England and I'm glad it wasn't our only winner!
"But he (Tahmuras) is a lovely horse. He surprised us how well he won at Chepstow the other day. He has taken a good step forward from there. That was a good performance and we will head to the Tolworth (Hurdle) at Sandown now. We were seeing if he was good enough today and then go for the Grade One. That track should suit him better than an easy two (miles) round here. I am really pleased with him.
"He will get two-and-a-half. He is not the quickest in the world. He was flat out all the way but he was hard on the bridle going to the last. He is super horse and we are very, very pleased with him. He is one of our better novice hurdlers anyway."
The Nick Alexander-trained Stainsby Girl (16-1) was an emphatic and enterprising winner of the Extra Places Any Day With Betfair Handicap Hurdle.
The eight-year-old Shirocco Mare had won twice over two miles at Kelso last season when trained by Donald Whillans. But she was bought by the trainer's son, amateur jockey Kit Alexander, and he rode her to victory on her first start for new connections on Merseyside.
Cheddleton made the early running with Stainsby Girl close up as the rest of the field sat way off that duo. Stainsby Girl and Kit Alexander then took over around halfway of the near 2m3f contest. She was around 10 lengths clear coming to the back straight and although the pack tried to close in she stayed on to score by three-and-three-quarters-of-a-length from Benson (10-3) with Cheddleton (12-1) a head back in third.
Trainer Nick Alexander said: "I thought she got a bit free, but she kept blowing. I am not sure when he (Kit Alexander) had his last ride... January. But he just hasn't got anything to ride. He just rides his own horses. He bought the horse itself and I am delighted for him.
"It looks a good buy as she is a lovely mare and she did very well for her previous connections. She beat our Elvis Mail on her last two starts (twice at Kelso in February and March) that's why we quite keen to stop her beating him again.
"Kit judged it very well. I am not sure he was expecting to be quite so far. He expected them to come past him. He would rather have taken a lead from Cheddleton for a bit longer. But it all worked out. He was lucky that she stayed on. To be honest my heart was in my mouth the whole way. I didn't think she would necessarily get home. Her last two winning distances have been two miles, so I didn't know if she would get home. She is a lovely mare and has a nice pedigree. Hopefully she will be a nice broodmare one day. But hopefully there will be (more race for her before)."
Winning jockey and owner Kit Alexander added: "She kinds of sets her own fractions really, I kept thinking in the straight that I was getting a bit tired and they were going to come and get me but she just kept galloping – she’s really tough. I know it’s the way she races and I’ve watched her before and she normally looks like she’s doing a bit much, so I was trying to just hold her as much as I could and not go crazy on her.
“I just ride occasionally really now and ride my own horses. I was a bit worried coming back and being a bit rusty against some experienced jockeys but she looked after me in the end. I might do a little bit more over the winter, but not a whole lot to be honest. I couldn’t believe how far clear I was in-running, but it was a lovely feeling winning on a big day.”
