Top Notch triumph at Haydock
Saturday 14 February 2015 20:53, UK
A wrap-up of the rest of the news from Haydok, where Top Notch earned a 10/1 quote for the Triumph Hurdle in victory.
Top Notch booked his ticket for Cheltenham with a facile success in the Betfred "Six Best Odds Races Daily" Victor Ludorum Juvenile Hurdle at Haydock.
Sent off at the prohibitive price of 2/13 after winning the first four starts of his career, he stretched it to five with a nine-length win over Medicine Hat.
He was entitled to do it easily and Daryl Jacob kept it simple, kicking on from the third last, and Sky Bet cut him to 10/1 from 14s for the JCB Triumph Hurdle in March.
It was Jacob's first ride since Sunday due to a knee injury.
"It's nice to come back on a winner and he is a classy horse," said Jacob.
"He just does what you ask and all I wanted today was a decent pace to keep him honest. I can see him running a big race in the Triumph, but whatever he does, he'll make some chaser.
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![Love was in the air as racegoers arrived on St Valentine's Day for Betfred Grand National Trial day at Haydock Park racecourse.]()
Image: Love was in the air as racegoers arrived on St Valentine's Day for Betfred Grand National Trial day at Haydock Park racecourse. -
![Grand National sponsors Crabbie's were also in attendance at the track on Betfred Grand National Trial day.]()
Image: Grand National sponsors Crabbie's were also in attendance at the track on Betfred Grand National Trial day. -
![Spare sections of hurdle lie ready for use at Ascot ahead of racing at the Berkshire track.]()
Image: Spare sections of hurdle lie ready for use at Ascot ahead of racing at the Berkshire track. -
![Top Notch and Daryl Jacob take the final flight well clear of Medicine Hat in the opening Betfred Victor Ludorum Juvenile Hurdle at Haydock.]()
Image: Top Notch and Daryl Jacob take the final flight well clear of Medicine Hat in the opening Betfred Victor Ludorum Juvenile Hurdle at Haydock. -
![Arpege D'Alene (left) and Tea For Two take the final flight locked together in the opener at Ascot.]()
Image: Arpege D'Alene (left) and Tea For Two take the final flight locked together in the opener at Ascot. The former eventually got the best of the argument. -
![Ainsi Fideles ridden by jockey Tom Scudamore jumps the last to go on and win the racinguk.com Reynoldstown Novices' Chase at Ascot.]()
Image: Ainsi Fideles and Tom Scudamore take the final fence clear of Deputy Dan on their way to victory in the Reynoldstown Novices' Chase at Ascot. -
![ASCOT, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 14: Tom Scudamore riding Ainsi Fideles clear the last to win The racinguk.com Reynoldstown Novices' Steeple Chase at Ascot.]()
Image: The pair had skipped clear from the third-last fence and victory was in no doubt from that point. -
![Closing Ceremony takes the final flight just ahead of Seeyouatmidnight with At Fishers Cross (obscured behind the leader) in behind.]()
Image: Winner Closing Ceremony takes the final flight in the Rendlesham just ahead of Seeyouatmidnight with At Fishers Cross (obscured behind leader) in behind. -
![Lie Forrit (near side), ridden by Peter Buchana,n jumps the last fence to win The Betfred Grand National Trial from Harry The Viking.]()
Image: Lie Forrit (near side), ridden by Peter Buchanan, jumps the last fence to win the Betfred Grand National Trial from Harry The Viking. -
![Lie Forrit (left) and Harry The Viking take the final fence together in the Betfred Grand National Trial at Haydock Park.]()
Image: A different view gives the idea of how far the pair finished clear of their pursuers. -
![Wayne Hutchinson and Balder Succes take the final fence from Ma Filleule and Barry Geraghty on their way to success in the Betfair Ascot Chase.]()
Image: Wayne Hutchinson and Balder Succes take the final fence from Ma Filleule and Barry Geraghty on their way to success in the Betfair Ascot Chase. -
![Wayne Hutchinson and Balder Succes fly the final fence on their way to victory in the Betfair Ascot Chase.]()
Image: The winner's jumping throughout was exemplary. -
![ASCOT, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 14: Wayne Hutchinson chats in the winners enclosure after winning The Betfair Ascot Steeple Chase on Balder Succes.]()
Image: Contrasting emotions in the winner's enclosure as Hutchinson explains how he won the race... -
![ASCOT, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 14: Sam Twiston-Davies returns after falling from Ptit Zig in The Betfair Ascot Steeple Chase at Ascot racecourse on February 14]()
Image: ...while Sam Twiston-Davies debriefs trainer Paul Nicholls and owner Chris Giles on the nine-fenth fall that saw his mount Ptit Zig exit the contest. -
![Barry Geraghty and Carole's Destrier come home clear to win the Weatherbys Hamilton Steeple Chase at Ascot.]()
Image: Barry Geraghty and Carole's Destrier come home clear to win the Weatherbys Hamilton Steeplechase at Ascot. -
![ASCOT, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 14: Tom Scudamore riding Unique De Cotte clear the last to win The Les Ambassadeurs Casino Handicap Hurdle at Ascot.]()
Image: Tom Scudamore was on the mark twice at the meeting, completing his double with Unique De Cotte. -
![ASCOT, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 14: Ruby Walsh produces Thistlecrack (R) to win The Racing UK Profits Returned To Racing Novices' Hurdle.]()
Image: Ruby Walsh (right) brings Thistlecrack with a withering late run to deny his rivals in the novice hurdle. -
![Oscar Fortune, ridden by Dougie Costello, jumps the last fence to win The Betfred Home Of Goals Galore Novices' Limited Handicap Chase at Haydock.]()
Image: Back at Haydock, Oscar Fortune and Dougie Costello jump the last fence to win The Betfred Novices' Limited Handicap Chase. -
![Definitly Red (right), ridden by Richard Johnson, goes on to win the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle ahead of Fletchers Flyer and Noel Fehily.]()
Image: Definitly Red (right), ridden by Richard Johnson, goes on to win the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle ahead of Fletchers Flyer and Noel Fehily. -
![Bygones Sovereign ridden by Michael Heard jumps the last flight to win the Pertemps Network Handicap at Haydock.]()
Image: Bygones Sovereign and Michael Heard followed up their trailblazing victory at Newbury seven days earlier with a repeat performance at Haydock. -
![A racegoing couple look at their mobile phone during the Ascot Chase Raceday at Ascot Racecourse.]()
Image: Everyone's taking selfies these days - possibly including this couple of racegoers at Ascot.
"He's a different type to Peace And Co (stablemate and Triumph Hurdle favourite) but both will be running and I wouldn't mind riding either of them."
Anthony Bromley, representing the owners, later clarified that both Top Notch and Peace And Co were now intended starters in the Triumph, with Jacob set to keep the ride aboard Top Notch.
David Pipe's horses seem to to defy the handicapper on a daily basis and Bygones Sovereign (7/1), put up 13lb for winning at Newbury last week, landed the Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle in fine style.
Having nicked a lead seven days ago, this time Abracadabra Sivola attempted to harry him early on but soon had to give way and from that moment on the result was barely in doubt.
The big guns stacked up behind him at the top of the straight, but Michael Heard had cannily saved something and he kicked clear again, beating Run Ructions Run by three lengths.
"Good horses make good jockeys," said Heard. "He's a bit quirky but winning has been the making of him, he just loves being in front.
"He went up 13lb for last week, he'll go up again for that and I hope he goes for the final now."
Brian Ellison's Definitly Red (9/4) just held off the renewed challenge of Fletchers Flyer in the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle.
He was cut in the betting for the Neptune and the race of the same name at the Festival, but Ellison will be doing a rain dance.
"Richard (Johnson) told us to skip Cheltenham if the going is good, he needs cut in the ground," said Ellison.
"He'll make a lovely three-mile chaser next season. We could take him to Aintree."
Jonjo O'Neill's renaissance continued when Oscar Fortune (15/2) made all under Dougie Costello in the Betfred "Home of Goals Galore" Novices' Limited Handicap Chase.
"I think the first-time blinkers made the difference," said O'Neill.
Teaforthree's bid to qualify for Cheltenham's Foxhunter Chase hangs in the balance after he could only finish fourth in the Betfred "Keep it Fun" Walrus Open Hunters' Chase.
Successful at Bangor eight days previously, the Curtis-trained Teaforthree was sent off 8/15 favourite but weakened in the closing stages.
Victory went to the Henry Daly-trained Pearlysteps (4/1), who came home three and three-quarters clear of Temple Grandin.
"I'd say it might have come too quick after his last race. We needed to run in order to qualify but that wasn't his true form," said Curtis.
"The track wouldn't be ideal. He ran one of his only previous bad races here two years ago. We'll see how he is but there are no plans at this stage."
