Saturday 7 January 2017 16:15, UK
A review of the rest of Saturday afternoon's at Sandown where Don Bersy beat 1/3 favourite Coeur De Lion in the opener.
Don Bersy received introductory quotes of 33-1 from Sky Bet for the JCB Triumph Hurdle after he banished memories of a fall at Warwick to win the 32Red Casino Juvenile Hurdle at Sandown.
The 7-1 winner drew clear with odds-on favourite Coeur De Lion on the run to the second-last and found plenty as the pair scrapped out the finish to oblige by a length and a half.
Winning trainer Tom Symonds said: "At Warwick, I had some fancy plans in my head but they went awry after that. He was fine after that, though.
"He travels beautifully and jumps well. On the grass at home he is a bit rapid, and you need to back off him sometimes, but Ben Poste has done a lot of schooling with him.
"He is a nice horse and we were coming here full of hope.
"The owner is realistic and they like to go small rather than big.
"He is not the biggest but he is filling out more and more."
Mercian Prince ensured Amy Murphy celebrated a winner with her first runner at the track after staying on stoutly to pocket the 32Red Handicap Chase.
Despite being given an 11lb hike in the weights for his victory at Southwell last time, the six-year-old responded in the manner of a horse on an upward curve.
Although still needing to do plenty of work after the last, the 7-2 favourite picked up well to reel in eventual third Gores Island before posting a two-length success.
All Together just snatched second by a head.
The Newmarket handler said: "We were surprised he got beat first time out at Uttoxeter, but they pulled 11 lengths clear of the third horse so I think he just bumped into one that day.
"It was going to go one way or the other today, but we do really like him. Jack Quinlan said that he almost got himself into a bit of a pocket turning out the back.
"We could look at going to Cheltenham on trials day for the novice handicap chase. Hopefully he will step up again for us."
Garde La Victoire gained a first victory over fences this season to gift trainer Philip Hobbs a one-two when leading home stablemate Bold Henry in the 32Red Casino Handicap Chase.
After finishing third in a Grade Two hurdle at Ascot on his last start, the eight-year-old took full advantage of an ease in grade to carry top weight to glory on his return to chasing.
Always up with the pace, the 6-4 favourite sealed victory with a bold jump at the last to defeat last year's winner by two lengths.
Sarah Hobbs, wife of the winning trainer, said: "Richard Johnson said he jumped left, which he has done a bit in the past, over the first three.
"He got in a rhythm after the third. He is still learning and is still a baby. That's what we will do in the future, stick at two miles with him.
"I don't know if he is good enough for that (Queen Mother Champion Chase), but the Game Spirit might be more like it."
Maestro Royal gained his first success in almost two years after staying on stoutly to take the 32Red.com Handicap Hurdle.
Having finished second in three of his last four starts, the eight-year-old finally added to his Huntingdon maiden hurdle win in January 2015.
The two-mile race looked to be going the way of top-weight Robinshill who still held the advantage over the last, but in the dying strides the 15-2 shot forged past the early pace-setter to get up by three-quarters of a length.
Winning trainer Nicky Henderson said: "He really did deserve one as he has been very close in three of his last four starts.
"He is a big horse. He has fought a lot of battles and they don't normally go his way. Another second would have been cruel.
"He really ought to be jumping fences as he is from the family of Barbers Shop."
