What a day!
You would find it hard to top that for a day’s National Hunt racing on these shores. First, Il Est Francais lives up to his tall reputation with a superb round of jumping to win the Kauto Star Novice Chase which even had rival trainer Paul Nicholls suggesting the horse could be mentioned in the same breath as the modern-day great he was named after. Then Constitution Hill makes a successful seasonal comeback with the greatest of ease. It was terrific to hear winning trainer Nicky Henderson say afterwards: “We missed the Fighting Fifth Hurdle [which was abandoned] so there is no reason why we shouldn’t look at the Unibet International Hurdle at Cheltenham on Trials day [on 27 January] as an extra run, which he is here to do. We want to race him.” Finally we had as dramatic a King George of any in its history with Shishkin slipping when in the lead and Hewick coming from nowhere to win. See you back here for the Cheltenham Festival and the Champion Hurdle on the opening day – it can’t get better than that … can it?
Ladbrokes Handicap Hurdle (3.40pm)
And they’re off … Mahons Glory has the early lead … Emailandy is in second … Kitty’s Light is struggling at the back. Will Carver is prominent and Chance A Tune is being pushed along. Mahons Glory kicks clear on the home turn. He is clear of Emailandy and he stays on well to wn with ease.
Result:
1 Mahons Glory 11/1
2 Emailandy 9/4 f
3 Artistic Endeavour 11/2
Updated
