Exeter review: Landmark day for champion trainer Paul Nicholls

A review of Tuesday's action at Exeter, where Paul Nicholls claimed a landmark 2,500th career success.

Paul Nicholls only had two runners at Exeter but both were successful, taking him up to a landmark 2,500 career successes.

The Eaglehaslanded had to work hard to justify 4/7 favouritism in the Racing UK Profits Returned To Racing Amateur Riders' Novices' Hurdle under Will Biddick, scraping home by a neck from For 'N' Against.

It was much easier for the classy Abidjan in the Racing UK Anywhere Novices' Hurdle as the 2/13 jolly coasted home by eight lengths in the hands of Sam Twiston-Davies.

"I had half an idea in the summer that I was near doing it," said Nicholls.

"My assistant Tom (Jonason) has been keeping it up to date and I knew I only needed two today.

"They were both odds-on, but it wasn't as if I went today knowing it would happen, so it's nice that it has."

He added: "Abidjan is only a novice until November 1 and the plan was always to go chasing this season with him.

"I might just have a look at a nice handicap first, I'll see what mark he gets."

There was also a noteworthy success for Mark Pitman, nine years since his last one.

Pitman, who won the Hennessy with Ever Blessed and trained the fragile Monsignor to win at two Cheltenham Festivals, had retired but was coaxed back into the game by Monsignor's owner Malcolm Denmark.

Golden Gate Bridge (5/1) made every yard of the running in the Racing UK Day Pass Just £10 "Junior" Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race for Denis O'Regan, in Denmark's familiar yellow, white and black silks.

"I'm delighted, I'm made up for the team and myself," Piitman told Racing UK.

"I've only had five runners and they've all been knocking on the door, but for one to get home in front is great, it really gets the blood pumping.

"We decided to make use of his experience today, on his debut at Huntingdon he didn't show what he had been showing me at home and I knew he'd not had a race as the next morning he was bucking and kicking.

"He's only a baby,but he has schooled and jumps fine. There's no point him taking on experienced Flat horses over hurdles, though, as they'll have him on the back foot.

"I'm only training for Malcolm, we have six to run and we'll just concentrate on those and try to get a few more on the board."

Ciaran Gethings escaped serious injury after a nasty incident before the bumper when Cast Cavalier lashed out when he was trying to mount, striking him.

He walked with support out of the paddock and was taken to Devon and Exeter Hospital as a precaution for further checks.