Summerville Boy takes Tolworth at Sandown
Saturday 6 January 2018 15:26, UK
Summerville Boy caused something of a minor surprise in the 32Red Tolworth Novices' Hurdle at Sandown.
Tom George's six-year-old seemed to relish the strong gallop set by Mont Des Avaloirs, while Kalashnikov appeared in trouble from an early stage, but was still in there fighting approaching the last.
Despite a poor jump by Summerville Boy (8-1), Noel Fehily was able to gather his mount up and keep him going for a four-length win.
Kalashnikov stuck on gamely for second while the four-year-old Mont Des Avaloirs was third, hampered by a bad leap at the second last.
The disappointment of the race was Western Ryder, who beat the winner last time out at Cheltenham.
Fehily told ITV Racing: "At Cheltenham it was a false-run race and he was very free. It was an even gallop today and that suited him.
"He's a very nice horse.
"I was hoping no one would notice I lost an iron at the last, he got into the bottom of it, but luckily he won really well.
"I think he'll get further, but he's a big baby. Tom has been minding him and the reason he's been running in good races is to keep him as a novice for next year if he didn't win."
