Neptune Investment Management Hyde Novices' Hurdle
Chetenham 14:40 (Registered As The Hyde Novices' Hurdle), £30,000 added, 4yo plus, 2m 5f 26y, Class 1
Friday 11th November 2016

1 Peregrine Run 13/2
2 Wholestone 5/2F
3 West Approach 3/1
9 ran Distances: 1l, 3½l, 8l
TIME 5m 5.90s (slow by 8.90s)

Peregrine Run lands a thrilling Hyde Novices' Hurdle under Roger Loughran

Peregrine Run, trained in Ireland by Peter Fahey, ran out the length winner of a thrilling finish to the Grade Two Neptune Investment Management Hyde Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham this afternoon.

Peregrine Run

The 13/2 shot, who was giving jockey Roger Loughran his first ever winner at Cheltenham, had to dig deep on the run-in to repel the challenge of both runner-up Wholestone (5/2) and third placed West Approach (3/1) but stayed on strongly to record a famous success for his trainer.

Fahey, who, like Loughran, was also celebrating a Cheltenham first (and his first Jump race winner in this country) and was delighted with the improvement that the six-year-old had shown.

"Peregrine Run was a good bumper horse and has turned a corner this year," said the trainer.

"He is improving the whole time and you can see that again today. I think the change in ground has helped him because he was doing a lot of his running on testing ground. He likes nice ground and won't knock about in real winter ground.

"You would be dreaming of coming back here in March. We don't have anything mapped out between now and then. We didn't know what kind of a grade he was because coming out of novices in Ireland and stepping into novices here it is hard to compare form. We have always thought a lot of him and thankfully he stepped up today."

Nigel Twiston-Davies was pleased with the performance of 5/2 favourite Wholestone, who finished a creditable length second.

Under Daryl Jacob, the five-year-old son of Craigsteel tracked his rivals in midfield early on in the two mile and five furlong contest but made stealthy progress entering the home straight to challenge for the lead.

In a pulsating battle to the line, Jacob's mount was unable to master Irish raider Peregrine Run, ridden by Roger Loughran, finishing a game second. Colin Tizzard's West Approach was a further three and a half-lengths back in third.

Twiston-Davies said: "I'm delighted with him. Three miles is his trip and he did superbly considering he was dropping back down in trip. He beat all the other English horses and just found the Irish horse (Peregrine Run) too good.

"His hurdling is not spectacular but he does not lose any ground and I just thought he was beaten by a better horse on the day."

Twiston-Davies' charge returned to Prestbury Park following a half-length victory over three miles at The Showcase last month. The gelding will return to Cheltenham in December for a three-mile novice hurdle before being primed for an assault on the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle at next year's Festival."

The Gloucestershire handler commented: "He will probably come back here for the three-mile novice here [December, 10] and then he is obviously one for the Albert Bartlett in March. He is top of the range."

Wholestone's rider Daryl Jacob, said: "We just weren't good enough on the day. But overall I'm very happy with the run, once again we finished a length or two ahead of Tizzard's again.

"Unfortunately, the Irish had a better horse on the day. We aren't sure where to go next. I'll speak to the boss, we're happy with the run."

Colin Tizzard was pleased with the performance of Thistlecrack's brother West Approach, who set a decent gallop throughout the contest and stayed on resolutely to finish third. The Sherborne trainer commented: "He ran and jumped really well.

"The other two just quickened by him. His brother is a three-miler so you think he would be. There are plenty of three mile races for him so we don't have to come here every time but it looked today as if three miles would be ideal for him."

Explaining why West Approach dictated proceedings, Tizzard said: "We led because we thought it was better he took the lead and didn't get outpaced. Coming down the hill, he kept finding and was going at the same pace as the other two went past him. He wasn't beaten very far and he's a nice horse."

Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle
(Registered As The Hyde Novices' Hurdle) (Grade 2)
£30,000 added, 4yo plus, 2m 5f 26y, Class 1
9 ran
Going: Good, Good to Soft in places

Pos	D	Horse SP	Jockey Weight	Trainer	Age
1st		Peregrine Run (IRE) 13/2	R Loughran 11-7	Peter Fahey	6
2nd	1	Wholestone (IRE) 5/2f	D A Jacob 11-7	N A Twiston-Davies	5
3rd	3½	West Approach 3/1	Aidan Coleman 11-7	C L Tizzard	6
4th	8	Spiritofthegames (IRE) 10/1	Harry Skelton 11-0	D Skelton	4
5th	10	Baden (FR) 10/3	A Tinkler 11-0	N J Henderson	5
6th	½	Leith Hill Lad 33/1	R Johnson 11-4	C E Longsdon	6
7th	3	Crosshue Boy (IRE) 33/1	D N Russell 11-7	Sean Doyle	6
8th	18	Bally Gilbert (IRE) 16/1	Nico de Boinville 11-0	B Pauling	5
9th	16	Pilansberg 20/1	Nick Scholfield 11-4	P F Nicholls	4