El Bandit fights for War success
Sunday 9 October 2016 17:32, UK
Sean Bowen picked up a great spare ride when winning on El Bandit (13-2) in the totepool Persian War Novices' Hurdle to give Paul Nicholls a treble on the Chepstow card.
Bowen brought the 13-2 shot from the rear of the field to join issue two out after Mirsaale, Coo Star Sivola and Canton Prince looked to be the principals.
The latter ruined his chance with a bad jump while El Bandit put in a good leap and battled on well to win by one length from Coo Star Sivola. Mirsaale was two lengths back in third.
The favourite No Comment unseated Barry Geraghty at the second flight.
Nicholls said: "Sean gave him a great ride and it is nice to give him a ride like that. That trip is short enough as he really wants three miles.
"We will have to have a think where he goes next as he is not a novice after November 1. He will keep on improving .
"He was flat out most the way, but his staying power and jumping won him the race. We hoped they would go fast which they did.
"He has really come good in his last four runs. He is a proper horse. After winning at Fontwell we were always going to come here. It will be worth looking at those graded races over three miles for him.
"He is a half-brother to The Outlaw who must be the quirkiest horse in training . I thought he would win his bumper first time out at Wincanton but he tried to run out at the last bend.
"One owner wanted to give him away, but Rome is not built in a day and he has got a lot of ability. He has just needed time.
"It might be worth looking at that (Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury). We can switch him to fences any time we like, but there is more to come over hurdles."
