Menorah wins despite scare

Day three of the Open meeting yesterday was all about Menorah as he lumped a huge weight to success in the Greatwood Hurdle, meaning trainer Philip Hobbs can look forward to plotting a route back to Cheltenham for the Champion Hurdle in March.

By The Newsroom

Published 15th Nov 2010, 11:31 BST

Updated 15th Nov 2010, 11:31 BST

Winner of last year's Supreme Novices' Hurdle, he was burdened with 11st 12lb and given quite a scare by the joint bottom-weight Bothy, who only finished a neck behind.

Hobbs saddled Rooster Booster to win this Grade Three handicap in November of 2001 before the grey went on to Champion honours.

Malton jockey Dougie Costello produced eyecatching Cheltenham wins on Saturday aboard Midnight Chase and Wayward Dream.

Conditional Shane Byrne stole the riding honours at Wetherby with a brilliant jumping performance up the home straight aboard Sue Smith's improving You Know Yourself. Horse and jockey are ones for the notebook.

Dual Oaks winner Snow Fairy, beaten in the St Leger, redeemed her reputation when winning the Queen Elizabeth II Cup in Japan yesterday.