Favourite Ballyandy suffers shock Wetherby loss to Acdc
The Nigel Twiston-Davies-trained Ballyandy was sent off 11-10 favourite for the extended two-mile-three-furlong feature – but having just his fourth start over fences, his jumping came under pressure and he could not find the necessary momentum to throw down a challenge.
It was left to Willie Boy to set the early pace, but he made a mistake when the pace turned up a notch and Acdc seized the initiative under Liam Quinlan with three fences to jump.
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Hide AdA blunder at the penultimate obstacle let his rivals in, but Acdc winged the last to pull three lengths clear at odds of 12-1 for trainer Chris Grant.
Grant said: “We were a bit worried about the trip being on the short side for him – but we thought as he goes on the ground, we could start there and we can always step him up again.
“It was a lovely run, and he’s a grand sort of a horse.
“I don’t know what the plan will be now – I’ll have to talk to the owner. I know they’d like to end up in Scotland in April, but it’s a long time between now and then.’’
The Twiston-Davies team may have been out of luck with Ballyandy, but Kapgarry (evens favourite) ensured they did not go home empty-handed after a two-and-a-half-length win in the Sixt Rent A Car Ride Smug Novices’ Hurdle.
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Hide AdLough Derg Spirit recovered from a couple of blunders to make a successful debut over fences in the Bet At racinguk.com Novices’ Chase.
A useful performer over hurdles for Nicky Henderson, Lough Derg Spirit was sent off the 4-9 favourite, but his supporters suffered an early scare as he clattered through the fourth fence.
Monbeg Theatre (11-4 favourite) fended off Nautical Theatre by a neck in the bet365 Charlie Hall Meeting 2nd & 3rd November Handicap Hurdle, and Theflyingportrait (7-2) emerged victorious in the 100% Racing UK Profits Back To Racing Handicap Chase for Jennie Candlish and jockey Sean Quinlan.
Richard Johnson’s journey to Yorkshire paid dividends as Innocent Touch (9-4) saw off Midnight Shadow in the Watch Racing UK Anywhere Handicap Hurdle.