Saturday 22 October 2016 11:13, UK
The news from the opening day of the Showcase meeting at Cheltenham, where El Bandit took the opener under Sean Bowen.
El Bandit gave champion trainer Paul Nicholls a 12th winner within the space of a week as jumps racing made a welcome return at Cheltenham.
Having claimed the Grade Two Persian War at Chepstow on his latest start - his fourth win on the bounce - the five-year-old made the most of a drop in class when he gamely stuck out his neck to land the Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle.
Chief market rival Black Warrior looked to have El Bandit's measure, but the 6-5 favourite found plenty on the run-in to overhaul Charles Byrnes' inmate by three-quarters of a length.
Nicholls said: "He's not one to take to the front and he needs a pace to come off.
"Sean Bowen did the right thing by kicking on and although he was off it (the bridle), I was always confident he would stay on strongly.
"I didn't want to run him as he had a hard race last time and it was only on Thursday that we decided to run as he loses his novice status next month.
"He was not at his best, but he got away with it. He will have a break now and will go three miles next time. He might have another hurdle race or he could go over fences."
Nicholls secured a quickfire double as Marracudja made it two wins from as many starts over fences in the Squareintheair.com Novices' Chase.
Left to his own devices out in front, just as he was at Newton Abbot on his chasing debut, the 3/1 favourite had enough in reserve to take the two-mile prize by a neck from the fast-finishing Presenting Arms.
Nicholls said: "I knew he would be in a little bit of trouble here. He is a free-running sort and there was a chance that the hill might catch him out. That might be the only time this season that he runs here.
"It's not the ideal track and he will be better off round a speed track like a Sandown, Kempton or Aintree. He is a good horse and is only five.
"He will probably go for the Henry VIII at Sandown, then to Kempton for the Wayward Lad at Kempton over Christmas.
"His two targets later on will be Aintree and Punchestown. Aintree is made for him when he is fresh."
The champion trainer made it three winners on the day when the Harry Cobden-ridden Cliffs Of Dover (100/30) was too good for Ainslie in the Racing UK Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle.
Nicholls, who was securing a 50th winner of the jumps season, said: "He has just improved enormously.
"He will get an entry in the Wensleydale (Wetherby next Friday) and that might be an option. If the ground stays dry it would be prudent to have him in there.
"At some stage he will have a break but he could have an entry in the Greatwood (Hurdle, Cheltenham) if he is eligible. I've never known a horse improve physically like he has.
"That might be our fastest 50 which is just great. They are all going well and running well."
Midnight Shot followed up his win at Fontwell last time out when he made all of the running in the Join The Jockey Club Ownership Syndicate Handicap Hurdle.
Valhalla loomed up as major threat rounding the home turn, but he could not find the necessary turn of foot to catch the 8/1 chance, with three and a quarter lengths separating the pair at the line.
Longsdon said: "We wanted to be near the front. That was the plan at Fontwell last time and everything worked out.
"Aidan (Coleman) gave him a lovely ride but the horse delivered. When Aidan was still travelling down the hill I thought we had a chance and the horse picked up the whole way.
"Aidan said we should go for a Pertemps qualifier so we will look to step him up to three miles now. "He will have a winter break then come back in the spring.
"He could have three options at the Festival - the Pertemps, Coral Cup or the Martin Pipe."
Heron Heights got the better of stable companion Full Cry to provide trainer Henry de Bromhead with a one-two in the Ryman Stationery Cheltenham Business Club Novices' Chase.
Winner of three of his previous five starts over fences, Heron Heights was a 6-1 shot to add to his tally, but gave his supporters a heart-stopping moment after making a bad mistake at the very first fence.
However, jockey Phillip Enright sat tight and after regaining his composure, his mount jumped much better for the remainder of the three-mile contest.
Heron Heights raced a little keenly towards the rear, but started to make inroads running down the hill.
Full Cry and David Mullins hit the front before the home turn, but his stablemate covered the move and found most for pressure after the final fence to score by a length and three-quarters.
Gordon Elliott 2014 Triumph Hurdle hero Tiger Roll, the 6-4 favourite to add to his recent triumph in the Munster National, did not jump as well as the De Bromhead pair but battled on to finish third under Jamie Codd in an Irish-dominated finish.
De Bromhead said: "I'm delighted. Both horses jumped great, both got great rides and it's just a shame one had to beat the other.
"It was hard to split them coming in. He (Heron Heights) can be keen, but Phillip is a really underrated jockey and a super horseman and got him settled. He did a great job on him today.
"I was a bit worried going left-handed, but he seemed to handle it.
"They're both good-ground horses and I'd imagine we might back off them now and bring them back in the spring.
"Heron Heights could maybe come back here for the four-miler (National Hunt Chase) or something like that.
"Full Cry is owned by the Garristown Aintree Syndicate, so you can imagine where we might aim with him!
"It's nice to get back on the winner's board here as it's been a few years."
While Nicky Henderson likened Thomas Campbell to mischievous cartoon character Dennis The Menace, there was no questioning his attitude following his victory in the Harrison James & Hardie Maiden Hurdle.
After running out an easy winner of a bumper at Kelso in May, the 11/4 shot proved two and a quarter lengths too strong for favourite, and stablemate, Khezerabad.
Henderson said: "This fellow (Thomas Campbell) I was sure was quite straightforward. They are two nice youngsters. He (Thomas Campbell) quickened up quite nicely.
"It is a quite a daunting place for a youngster to come. He got lost at Huntingdon then won very easily at Kelso.
"He will stay a bit further and he is a home bred which is lovely. He is a real toy boy and is always up to tricks.
"If there was a naughty boy in the class like Dennis The Menace it would be him. He would be the one causing all the trouble."
