Redicean slashed for Triumph Hurdle after stylish Adonis win at Kempton
Alan King has always been a dab hand with juvenile hurdlers and he appears to have another smart one in Redicean, who has been cut to 5-1 for the Triumph Hurdle after an impressive win at Kempton.
ALAN KING put Triumph Hurdle punters on Red alert at Kempton.
The Wiltshire trainer’s smart juvenile Redicean completed a hat-trick of wins in impressive fashion in the Adonis Hurdle.
The 10-11 favourite moved stylishly into the straight before pouncing at the last. He stormed away to see off Malaya by seven lengths.
It was a fourth win in the Grade 2 contest for King. His 2005 hero Penzance went on to land the Triumph Hurdle.
Sun Bets cut Redicean to 5-1 second favourite for Cheltenham’s top prize for four-year-olds.
King said: “That was lovely – I’m thrilled. I thought he was good. His jumping was very slick today. When he got in tight he was very quick through the air.”
Cyrname was another taking novice winner but he won’t be going to Cheltenham.
His only scare in the Pendil Novices’ Chase came when jockey Sean Bowen had to cling on to his neck after a mistake four from home. The 2-5 favourite came clear for an 11-length success in part of a treble for Paul Nicholls and owner Johnny de la Hey.
Templegate's Treble
NAP 3.20 Fontwell - Old Guard: 'Has won twice this season and this is probably his perfect trip these days'
NEXT BEST 2.50 Fontwell - The Last But One: 'Hit the target on his chase debut and he should follow up'
TREBLE 4.35 Southwell - Abbey Street: 'Chased home a well-weighted rival on his first handicap run and the step up in trip should help today'
Nicholls said: “It’s all about next year with him. The worst thing you could do is take him to Cheltenham.
“I’m not saying no to Aintree and there’s the Future Champions Chase at Ayr – I like the idea of that.”
Consistent Master Dee continued his incredible run of form with victory in the £100,000 Betdaq Chase.
Fergal O’Brien’s star came home strongly under Barry Geraghty. The 8-1 winner has now finished in the first three in all 21 races he’s run in.
O’Brien said: “This horse has been ready to run for three months and the Rooneys have let me wait and do what we wanted. It’s paid off and I’m over the moon.”
MASTER THE WORLD was handed Winter Derby glory by the Lingfield stewards.
Mr Owen held off the late lunge of David Elsworth’s ace by a head but he had clearly hampered the 16-1 runner-up. The switching of the placings seemed inevitable.
NICKY HENDERSON worked two of his big Cheltenham hopes after racing at Kempton yesterday.
Might Bite and Buveur D’Air – favourites for the Gold Cup and Champion Hurdle – were led for a lap of the track by Grand Annual contender Theinval.
Henderson said: “They were three happy jockeys so you’ve got one happy trainer.”
Cue Card won’t be taking on Might Bite in the Gold after trainer Colin Tizzard revealed he will instead run in the Ryanair Chase.
The 12-year-old fell at the third-last fence in the last two Gold Cups. After a return to form when runner-up behind Waiting Patiently in last week’s Ascot Chase he will stick to 2m5f at the Festival in the race he won five years ago.
