Lucinda Russell backs Ahoy Senor to bounce back from Carlisle mishap

The six-year-old horse, a Grade One winner over hurdles at Aintree in April, jumped with great fluency for the most part under Derek Fox after missing a race at Wetherby 48 hours earlier due to the good ground.

However, Ahoy Senor appeared to stumble on landing at the second last, unseating Fox, in a fast-run race ultimately won by Fiddlerontheroof for the resurgent Colin Tizzard stable.

Russell reports her stable star to be none the worse following the mishap, and she was impressed with his performance, despite the eventual outcome.

“He’s obviously very onward bound and you worry that he’s only ever going to be able to stand off fences, but he’s very clever in getting near to them as well,” said the 2017 Grand National-winning trainer.

“I was delighted with the way he went – we set him a very tough test.

“He just stumbled on landing. It happens, and I suppose he is a novice – there were a lot of positives to take away from it.”

Ahoy Senor does not have another engagement pencilled in yet, but he is likely to run in a novice chase at the end of this month.

“It was unfortunate for him to stumble after that fence, but I don’t think it’s going to be an issue – we’re just looking forward to his next run,” added Russell.

“I don’t know where it’ll be, but it’ll be towards the end of the month.

“We’ll find a novice chase somewhere.”

Meanwhile, champion trainer Paul Nicholls is priming Enrilo for a crack at the historic £250,000 Ladbrokes Trophy at Newbury later this month.

The seven-year-old will be bidding to put the record straight following his demotion to third place for causing interference after being first past the post in the bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown in April.

Enrilo is 7-1 favourite with the sponsors for the prestigious staying handicap chase on November 27 after he was allotted 10st 10lb.

“The intention is to go straight to Newbury with Enrilo, it always has been the plan for him to go there fit, fresh and well,” said Nicholls, who is seeking a fourth win in the race.

“He won at Newbury last season and obviously ran well at Sandown where he was a bit green in front. We have learned lessons in that he doesn’t want to be in front too soon, but he travels well in a race which will suit a race like the Ladbrokes Trophy.

“The Ladbrokes Trophy is always a hot race but we are trying to do our best to go there in great shape, with a great chance.”

Nicholls’s other entries have alternative targets with Next Destination more likely to run in the Betfair Chase at Haydock on November 20, while Lalor is heading for the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham on November 13.

Peter Fahey is expecting a big run from Belfast Banter in the Unibet Elite Hurdle at Wincanton on Saturday.

The six-year-old, a winner at the Cheltenham and Aintree Festivals in the spring, is on a retrieval mission after taking a tumble on his latest start at Listowel six weeks ago.