Allmankind passes Warwick test ahead of Arkle Trophy tilt at Cheltenham

The five-year-old, who runs in the colours of leading Flat ownerr Bill Gredley, adopted his usual front-running tactics under Harry Skelton in the Agetur UK Kingmaker Novices’ Chase at Warwick.

A feature of his first two victories this season, including at Grade One level last time out, has been his accurate jumping but this time around there were a couple of scruffy leaps.

On testing ground, he was perhaps not quite as exuberant at his fences, but was still able to get away from the obstacles quicker than his rivals.

Cheddleton soon dropped away, but Sky Pirate was still in contention heading to the last fence in the back straight.

Allmankind met that fence spot on and then got away quickly, but he still had to survive a blunder at the second last before victory was sealed by 17 lengths.

Time will tell if he can mount a challenge to Nicky Henderson’s Shishkin and the Willie Mullins-trained Energumene in the Arkle, the top two-mile race for novice steeplechasers, but he deserves to take his place.

“I’m delighted, job done. The ground is really hard work. We got stuck in it a bit, but he’s pulled right away going to the line,” enthused the winning jockey.

“He’s a remarkable horse really. He just doesn’t know when to give in. He’s done brilliantly.

“At the second last, he was probably getting stuck in the ground. When you have frost covers down, that is what it does to it. It’s the toughest ground he’s run on, but he went away well at the line.

“To come off the Flat and achieve what he’s done is brilliant. Delighted for the owners. They will be happy.”

Those sentiments were shared by the jockey’s brother Dan who trains the horse.

He said: “I was happy with the result, but all the way round it was a little concerning. The ground is testing here and he got stuck in the jumps a little.

“You can’t be asking for too many big jumps on this ground and that’s why he couldn’t get into a rhythm as he sometimes does.

“He showed a great attitude to get stuck in, he put his head down for the line. He won quite authoritatively in the end.

“He showed today he can get himself into some unusual positions at the fences and knows how to get out of them and survive them. That is vital. That is something else he has learned today.

“I’ve no concern about his durability or suitability, but we’re taking on two monsters (Shishkin and Energumene) in a month’s time.”

The preceding handicap hurdle went to Orkan for Ryedale trainer Mark Walford and jockey Jamie Hamilton.

Meanwhile, Catterick clerk of the course Fiona Needham has praised her team for ensuring action can take place at the North Yorkshire track today.

A 17-strong team spent yesterday morning clearing snow off the course before moving running rails ahead of a typically competitive card.

Having lost two cards to the weather, Needham praised the British Horseracing Authority for acceding to her request to delay the meeting by 24 hours.

“The frost is out of the ground – the conditions are sticky and a bit yukky,” she told The Yorkshire Post.

“We’re just about raceable and quite a lot of people, myself included, have been shovelling snow.

“We’re here to race – it’s what the job is all about – and we’re grateful to the whole team, and the BHA, for giving the meeting every chance. The going is soft and heavy in places – there’s no description for tacky and horrible.”

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