bet365 West Yorkshire Hurdle
Grade 2, Wetherby 15:15 £40,000 added, 4yo plus, 3m 26y, Class 1
Saturday 3rd November 2018

1 Nautical Nitwit 15/2
2 Old Guard 15/8
3 Monbeg Theatre 7/4F
5 ran NR: Clyne, Wholestone Distances: 1½l, 6l, 13l
Time: 5m 43.20s (fast by 4.80s)

Despite making a bad mistake at the last, Nautical Nitwit prevails

Nautical Nitwit
© Grossick Photography

Phil Kirby enjoyed the best day of his training career to date at Wetherby on Saturday as Nautical Nitwit and Lady Buttons took blacktype races on the way to providing the North Yorkshire-based trainer with a treble.

Fast ground decimated field sizes for Wetherby’s day in the sun, but Kirby will not be bothered one jot as the diminutive Nautical Nitwit landed the Grade 2 bet365 West Yorkshire Hurdle and stable star Lady Buttons prevailed in the Listed OLBG.com Mares’ Hurdle.

Nautical Nitwit  looked up against it on the ratings, especially as jockey Tommy Dowson was unable to claim the 3lb he would have been entitled to in a handicap. However, he stuck gamely to his task to hold off Bryony Frost on Old Guard by a length and a half.

“I would never have believed he’d be winning a Grade 2 but he’s so tough,” said Kirby. “He’s not a good jumper at the best of times and he made a blunder at the last but it didn’t stop him.

“It’s been a great day. This place is close to home for us which means it’s close to the pub!”

Bet365 West Yorkshire Hurdle
£40,000 added, 4yo plus, 3m 26y, Class 1
5 ran
Going: Good, Good to Firm in places

Pos	D	Horse SP	Jockey Weight	Trainer	Age
1st		Nautical Nitwit (IRE) 15/2	Thomas Dowson 11-0	P A Kirby	9
2nd	1½	Old Guard 15/8	Bryony Frost 11-6	P F Nicholls	7
3rd	6	Monbeg Theatre (IRE) 7/4f	T J O'Brien 11-0	Jamie Snowden	9
4th	13	High Secret (IRE) 22/1	Bridget Andrews 11-0	D Skelton	7
5th	7	Keeper Hill (IRE) 7/2	A P Heskin 11-0	W Greatrex	7
NR		Wholestone (IRE)	D A Jacob 11-6	N A Twiston-Davies	7
NR		Clyne	Adam Wedge 11-0	Evan Williams	8