Thursday 11 February 2016 18:30, UK
News of the action from Huntingdon where Ma Du Fou was a game winner of the feature Sidney Banks Memorial Novices' Hurdle.
Ma Du Fou repaid the faith shown in him by trainer Warren Greatrex by continuing his rapid rise through the ranks with victory in the 32Red Sidney Banks Memorial Novices' Hurdle at Huntingdon.
While an appearance at the Cheltenham Festival is likely to be put on hold until next year, the Upper Lambourn handler's assertion that he is a horse for the future was justified in perfect fashion in the Listed contest.
Disputing the lead in the extended two-mile-three-furlong prize, the six-year-old found plenty when called upon for a maximum effort by Gavin Sheehan to defeat the strong-travelling North Hill Harvey by two lengths and complete a hat-trick this campaign.
Hot favourite Minella Awards was under pressure a long way from home and finished a disappointing fifth of the six runners.
Greatrex said: "He is a horse that I've always held in high regard. Last year was a write off and he was never the horse we thought he was.
"I've just given him plenty of time. This year he has won two non-events and this was his next step up and he has done it pretty well.
"I think Cheltenham may be a year too soon for him. I will speak to the owners and make a plan, but whether Cheltenham is right for him now I'm not so sure. I know it's a cliche but he is a horse for the future and chasing will be his game. He has improved so much the last 18 months, I don't know whether Cheltenham might just take the edge of him.
"This trip is right for him, but I would not be averse to dropping him back as he is not slow while he will be even better on better ground, so we have plenty of options. Once he turned in front today that was it, lights out. He stays very well and he was actually going clear at the end."
Skelton said of the runner up: "We are very happy with our horse and we may have had the same circumstances when we were second to Barters Hill first time out. We knew he was going to outstay us, but next time we dropped him back to two miles at Cheltenham and he won.
"It is a little bit of a case of deja vu again as he is probably between two and two and a half, as I don't quite think he fully stays two and a half miles right out yet.
"In all reality he will run in the Supreme and then we would take a view to next year."
Sky Bet, sponsors of the Supreme Novices' Hurdle, cut the winner to 33/1 from 50s for the Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle.
Baoulet Delaroque formed the middle leg of an across-the-card treble for champion trainer Paul Nicholls after running out the winner of the 32Red.com Handicap Hurdle, following up recent wins at Doncaster and Wincanton.
Delivered late by Sam Twiston-Davies, the 15-8 favourite bravely defied long-time leader Value At Risk by two lengths to add to Nicholls' victories with Rock On Oscar and Nexius at Doncaster.
Tom Jonason, assistant trainer, said: "That's his third run in the space of a few weeks and Paul (Nicholls) said in the event of this happening he will probably hold entries in the Coral Cup and Martin Pipe, but that it's quite likely he might go to Aintree as he has had a tough few weeks."
Dan Skelton, trainer of the runner-up, said: "We had to get a good bit of form against his name and that's what he has done. I'm delighted with that . He will go to one of the Festivals, but I don't know which one."
Denis O'Regan was the rider to side with in the final two races after taking both divisions of the 32Red British Stallion Studs EBF Mares' Standard Open National Hunt Flat.
My Khaleesi (2-1 favourite) initiated the double when going one better than on her debut at Warwick, getting the better of debutant Storm Patrol by two lengths to set up a potential trip to the Grand National meeting at Aintree in April.
The victory also completed an across-the-card treble for winning trainer Alan King, who was on target at Doncaster with Willoughby Hedge and Winter Escape.
Dan Horsford, assistant trainer, said: "She travelled well all the way round and Denis (O'Regan) said that the danger would be Suzy Smith's horse (Storm Patrol), so he tracked her into the race. She has got a good attitude and picked up well.
"Denis mentioned that the Aintree mares' bumper might be for her as she has got the class for that, but that's for Alan to decide."
After finishing seventh in a Listed contest at the track last time out, Beyond Measure (5-1) took full advantage of an ease in grade to complete O'Regan's brace when running out a clear-cut winner of the second division.
Winning trainer Don Cantillon said: "That was grand. She has been flying at home since her last run. I bred her myself and she is a half-sister to As I Am. Like all my horses though, she is for sale."
Ganbei gained a first win under rules when seeing out the trip best of all the runners in the opening 32Red Casino Handicap Hurdle.
The lightly raced 10-year-old came from last to first to take the three-mile-one-furlong prize and add to his wins in the point-to-point sphere.
Showing his appetite for a thorough test, the Mick Easterby-trained runner had enough in hand to hold the rallying Giveitachance at bay by a length.
David Easterby, assistant trainer, said: "He would have been placed in the Foxhunter at Cheltenham (2014) if he hadn't fallen.
"That fall at Cheltenham did knock his confidence, that's why he is over hurdles not over fences.
"He is lightly raced and doesn't have many miles on the clock so hopefully it will be his year. We will probably stick to hurdles."
Fight Commander took a step up in trip in his stride after bounding away to victory in the 32Red On The App Store Chase.
Although showing little in his first start over fences at the track back in November, the Oliver Sherwood-trained runner returned to the course a seemingly reformed character when staying on resolutely over an extended two miles and seven furlongs.
Favourite Vazaro Delafayette threw away his chances of making all after some erratic jumping down the back straight on the second circuit handing the initiative to the 10-1 winner.
Maintaining his momentum down the home straight, the seven-year-old eventually crossed the line six lengths clear of Kap Jazz.
Sherwood said: "He had to have stitches in a hind stifle since he last ran here in November.
"The trip has helped him today, but his form in bumpers and hurdles was good without him winning. I am delighted for the owner who has been very patient with him."
Albatros De Guye (22-1) gave trainer Anna Newton-Smith a surprise success despite being 4lb wrong at the weights in the 32Red £10 Free Handicap Chase.
