Landmark winner for Dennis

A review of Friday's meeting at Exeter as Tim Dennis saddled his first winner as a permit holder with Its A Long Road.

Tim Dennis expressed his relief at saddling his first winner as a permit holder when Its A Long Road landed the Up The Villa Handicap Hurdle at Exeter.

Dennis, the son of late trainer Walter, who saddled Coome Hill to win the Hennessy Gold Cup in 1996 under Jamie Osborne, and brother of trainer and former jump jockey David, was delighted to get that elusive victory.

"A winner at long last," said the Bude handler.

"My parents bred him. He ran quite well in a bumper 12 months ago last October and then we did his wind.

"We got him back again in the New Year and it was his first run in a handicap today and we got lucky.

"It's the first winner since I took on the permit from my dad over four years ago.

"I've had about 30 runners and had a few seconds and this is my first winner over hurdles. I'm relieved as much as anything.

"I've got three horses on the books at the moment. I've only got a permit and I've plenty of sheep to lamb so I'm satisfied with my lot."

Its A Long Road (7-2) collared Xaarcet on the run-in to win by two lengths under Nick Scholfield.

Dennis is thinking of turning him out again quickly at Taunton on Thursday.

"I wouldn't rule it out. I entered him just in case he got brought down or something early on. It's just nice to have the option," he said

Jason Maguire enjoyed a welcome change of luck when steering Molly's A Diva (11-2) to victory in the West Wing Mares' Handicap Hurdle.

Maguire got the best out of Kim Bailey's eight-year-old as she battled on well to defeat the 7-4 favourite Molo by three-quarters of a length.

The Grand National-winning jockey escaped injury in a fall at Musselburgh on Thursday and switched to the west country venue after Warwick was abandoned. He is suspended for three-days from Saturday and is appealing against a 14-day ban he incurred at Ludlow on Wednesday.

Champion jockey Tony McCoy delivered Master Malt (13-8 favourite) to pounce late and land the Coming Down The Pub My Son Handicap Hurdle for his boss JP McManus.

Jonjo O'Neill's charge overtook the pace-setting Absolutely Bygones after the last to win by a length and three-quarters from Dawson City, who stayed on for third.

Twentytwo's Taken (evens favourite) had little difficulty justifying her short price in the Andrews Family & Friends Mares' Novices' Hurdle.

Held up in the early stages, Tom Scudamore brought the David Pipe-trained seven-year-old through to lead at the third-last flight and go on to score by a cosy seven lengths.

Qualando, trained by Paul Nicholls, wore down Gold Present on the run to the line to take the Kandy Toys 'National Hunt' Novices' Hurdle.

The 10-11 favourite, ridden by Sam Twiston-Davies, opened his account by a length with the pace-setting 66-1 shot Welcome Bach running a big race in third.

Alan King claimed the Andrew West Memorial Novices' Limited Handicap Chase with Salmanazar (10-1) in the hands of Denis O'Regan, while Castarnie (11-2) was a game winner of the Good Night Bud Handicap Chase under Felix de Giles.