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Navajo not for passing at Haydock

Updated / Saturday, 23 Jan 2021 17:09
Navajo Pass made his fitness edge over Buveur D'Air count in the feature
Navajo Pass made his fitness edge over Buveur D'Air count in the feature

Navajo Pass repelled the challenge of the returning Buveur D'Air in Haydock's The New One Unibet Hurdle.

Having been an 11-1 shot with some firms overnight, Donald McCain’s winner was sent off the 4-1 outsider of three to beat dual Champion Hurdle hero Buveur D’Air and Ballyandy, who took this Grade Two 12 months ago.

But forceful tactics paid off as Navajo Pass led from the outset and kept enough in reserve to see off Buveur D’Air, who challenged after the last hurdle but could not reel in his rival and had to settle for a four-and-a-quarter length second.

Nicky Henderson’s Buveur D’Air was having his first run in 14 months, since suffering an injury that required surgery when also beaten at short odds in the 2019 Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle.

A thrilled McCain said of his Sean Quinlan-ridden winner: "He’s going to be a very smart horse.

"This is a season where you usually get lost a bit because it’s his first season out of juvenile hurdles. We’ve been running in handicaps with huge weights and today he was taking on two horses that were twice his age!

"It’s hard, but we knew he was fit, we knew he could jump and we knew he was in good nick after winning up at Musselburgh.

"We could have floated round for third, but I spoke to Tim (Leslie, owner) before and we said we’d take a punt and make it a test and see what happens."

Navajo Pass is not entered in the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham.

Asked whether supplementing was a possibility, McCain added: "We’ll speak to Tim. I don’t think he’s a Champion Hurdle horse – I don’t think he’s got the natural speed for a Champion Hurdle, but I might be wrong.

"My first thoughts were he’s going to be more suited to Aintree, if anywhere. I know Tim likes Aintree and we love Aintree, obviously.

"We’ll just enjoy today for now. I can’t emphasise enough that he’s next year’s horse."

Henderson said of the runner-up: "That ground is not for him, but he’s done well and his jumping was as good as ever – he jumped every hurdle like he used to.

"I’d expect him to come on hugely. He’ll definitely still go for the Champion Hurdle and he won’t run beforehand."

Royale Pagaille (11-5F) looks a horse destined for the very top judged on a brilliant display in the Peter Marsh Chase..

The French import was beaten on his first two starts for trainer Venetia Williams and leading owner Rich Ricci last season, but appears much improved this winter, with this his third successive victory.

A novice chase success on Merseyside was followed by an emphatic victory on his handicap debut at Kempton over the Christmas period – and even a 16lb hike in the weights to a lofty mark of 156 was nowhere near enough to stop him completing his hat-trick in devastating style.

Initially ridden with restraint by Tom Scudamore, Royale Pagaille jumped and travelled with such fluency that he tanked his way to the from racing down the back straight for the second time.

While most of his rivals had cried enough in the ultra-testing conditions rounding the home turn, Scudamore's mount was remarkably still full of running – and safely negotiated the remaining obstacles in the straight to score by 16 lengths.

Scudamore said: "To do that in this ground – win off a mark of 156 by 16 lengths – is very impressive. You don’t get too many horses that are able to do that.

"I don’t know him well enough to know if this ground is important to him, but he’s handled it well enough today."

Williams was at Ascot, where she was guarded on a Cheltenham Gold Cup bid, but was nevertheless delighted with her charge’s progress.

She said: "I bought him at the Arqana Sale at Deauville in November 2019, and it took me until 12 months later to sell him, and that’s when Rich and Susannah (Ricci) stepped in.

"Looking at the times, I don’t imagine it was too heavy up there – but the handicapper will hike him up again, and it will force me to put him in rare areas near the top.

"This is his third season as a novice chaser, and in the first two he didn’t win, but he’s very progressive now.

"But I was delighted. He’s a perfect example of a horse that’s needed time.

"I can’t say he will definitely go for the Gold Cup, and there will be much discussion before any decisions are reached."

Fergal O'Brien believes the future is bright for Silver Hallmark (2-1) following an impressive all-the-way victory in the Read Nicky Henderson’s Unibet Blog Novices’ Chase.

A field of four runners went to post for the opener on Merseyside, with Henderson’s Allart sent off the favourite to double his Grade Two tally after a striking chasing debut at Ascot last month.

Silver Hallmark, narrowly beaten by Fiddlerontheroof on his first attempt over fences at Exeter in November, was sent straight to the lead on his first start since – and jumped well in the hands of Adam Wedge for much of the two-and-a-half-mile journey.

His task was undoubtedly made easier when Allart crashed out racing down the back straight – but O’Brien’s charge can still be expected to go on to bigger and better things, judged on the way he powered through the testing conditions to score by four and a half lengths.

O’Brien did not make the trip to the track, but said: "I’m delighted with him – he’s been very well at home.

"He came back from Exeter with a little nick, which took a bit of time to come right, but he’s been in great form.

"Adam gave him a lovely ride. It was only his second run over fences and only the sixth run of his life, including his point-to-point. Haydock takes a bit of jumping, and I’m delighted with how it’s worked out."

Silver Hallmark has not been entered for any of the novice chases at the Cheltenham Festival, with O’Brien instead eyeing a possible appearance at Aintree’s Grand National meeting.

He added: "We were in a quandary whether to stick over hurdles or go chasing with him, but Mr and Mrs Rucker (owners) said he was bought as a chaser – and I thought it was worth having a crack at a Grade Two today, and if he lost his novice status, so be it.

"I didn’t put him in any of the novice chases at Cheltenham, because I just felt he was lacking a bit of experience.

"Ground is important to him. I don’t think he wants it as bad as today, but soft ground would be important, so if it came up soft at Aintree then we’d definitely have a look at something like that."

Faivoir (7-1) lunged late to claim a last-gasp victory in the Sky Bet Supreme Trial Rossington Main Novices’ Hurdle.

Dan Skelton’s six-year-old faced a significant step up in class for this Grade Two test – and looked booked for minor honours jumping the final flight, with Donald McCain’s Minella Drama seemingly in control.

However, Faivoir ate into his lead on the run-in and got up in the dying strides to prevail by a neck.

Winning jockey Bridget Andrews was emotional after the race as she reflected on the recent death of stable favourite Mohaayed, who was fatally injured at Market Rasen last Saturday.

Andrews had previously partnered Mohaayed to win the 2018 County Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

"Last week was tough – Mohaayed played a big part in my career," she said.

"I’m delighted for this horse today, and delighted for his owners. He’s actually been brilliant for me, because I’m four from four on him now.

"I think that trip (two miles) is fine for him on this ground. He’s still quite green and has a bit of an awkward way of going. He lugged in behind a little bit – but once I pulled him out and got upsides, I was away then.

"I don’t know what Dan’s plans are going to be. We tried him in a handicap at Sandown, and he didn’t really like the hustle and bustle."

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