Sky Bet Supreme Trial Novices' Hurdle |
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| Grade 2, Haydock Park 14:05 £30,000 added, 4yo plus, 1m 7f 144y, Class 1  |
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| Saturday 20th January 2018 | |
1 First Flow 9/4F
2 Midnight Shadow 5/1
3 Lisdoonvarna Lad 12/1
6 ran Distances: 10l, 1½l, ¾l
Time: 4m 10.50s (slow by 30.50s)
First Flow lands the Grade 2 Novices' Hurdle at Haydock for David Bass and Kim Bailey
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A winner at Lingfield in November and then Newbury last month for Kim Bailey, First Flow was sent off the 9-4 favourite for this near two-mile heat and his supporters were treated to a clear-cut victory.
David Bass just had to set him right at the final flight before First Flow powered home by 10 lengths from Midnight Shadow to earn a quote of 16-1 with Unibet for the Supreme at the Cheltenham Festival.
Speaking from Ascot, Bailey told ITV Racing: "I was very impressed with him. He's an angular, narrow horse and he's got guts I've never come across.
"He's been on heavy ground now three times and he's done exactly the same every single time.
"When he won first time, David Bass got off him and said he was a proper horse, which amazed us as he caught us by surprise with the way he won.
"At Newbury he idled in front. This was a tougher task, so there is a lot of hope for the future.
"I wouldn't be at all surprised if that was his last run of the season.
"He's had four runs this season. He's a baby and needs looking after. I think he had a hard race today."
Matt Nicholls, Bailey's assistant, said: "That ground is very important to him.
"He was a bit keen to begin with, but he jumped very well and in that ground he takes some stopping - he's got a massive engine.
"That could be it this year. He needs time between his races and he needs this ground so we'll just have to see. That was his aim this season.
"He'll make a chaser but he's obviously a very good hurdler."
Sky Bet Supreme Trial Novices' Hurdle
(Registered As The Rossington Main Novices' Hurdle) (Grade 2)
£30,000 added, 4yo plus, 1m 7f 144y, Class 1
6 ran
Going: Heavy
| Pos | D | Horse SP | Jockey Weight | Trainer | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | First Flow (IRE) 9/4f | David Bass 11-4 |
K C Bailey | 6 | |
| 2nd | 10 | Midnight Shadow 5/1 | Danny Cook 11-4 |
Mrs S J Smith | 5 |
| 3rd | 1½ | Lisdoonvarna Lad (IRE) 12/1 | Jonathan Burke 11-4 |
C E Longsdon | 6 |
| 4th | ¾ | Waterlord 11/4 | W T Kennedy 11-4 |
D McCain Jnr | 7 |
| 5th | 12 | Mcgowan's Pass 14/1 | Henry Brooke 11-4 |
A M Thomson | 7 |
| 6th | 11 | Lostintranslation (IRE) 7/2 | Harry Cobden 11-4 |
C L Tizzard | 6 |
