English/Ire
Bibe Mus given Fred Winter green light after Sandown success
Paul Nicholls’ new French-bred recruit Bibe Mus looks set for a quick turnaround after landing the opening Betfair Racing Podcasts Juvenile Handicap Hurdle at Sandown in fine style.
Formerly trained by Yoann Bonnefoy to win at Lyon-Parilly, Bibe Mus headed to Sandown ready to make his first appearance for Paul Nicholls having joined the Ditcheat handler from Ross O'Sullivan.
With Listed form in the book from his second-place finish at Aintree last season, he was well-fancied to make a winning start and after jumping well throughout in the hands of Harry Cobden, he picked up nicely to strike by three lengths.
He now looks set for a run at the Cheltenham Festival next week, with Nicholls confirming he will head to the Fred Winter.
He said: "He'll get a 5lb penalty for that and should now get in the Fred Winter which is why we bought him,"
"We wouldn't have come here otherwise and 122 would normally get you in but that little bit extra should get him in now.
"I haven't had him that long and Colm (Donlon, owner) asked me a month ago if I had anything for the Fred Winter and I asked Anthony Bromley who said the boys (Simon Munir & Isaac Souede) would see me this one and we bought him and the rest is history.
"We've liked what we've seen, and he's done everything really nicely. It's a bit tight to Tuesday and you wouldn't have come here if you didn't have to, but he was bought to do that and he's quite a tough horse and hasn't had too hard a race there today."
Olly Murphy and Sean Bowen warmed up for the Cheltenham Festival in the perfect manner when Scorpio Rising continued his upward trajectory with a comfortable win the European Breeders' Fund Betfair 'National Hunt' Novices' Handicap Hurdle Final at Sandown.
Scorpio Rising was looking to make it four from four this season following wins at Perth, Lingfield and Windsor, and as a result, he was sent off the 9/2 joint-favourite in a competitive heat.
Having travelled kindly in the hands of Sean Bowen throughout, he picked up smartly to pounce up the run-in before drawing two-and three-quarter lengths clear of Get On George.
Murphy said: "I thought he was progressive, but I didn't think he was that progressive and he's just got better with racing and he's a good horse. He's won four on the bounce now which is brilliant.
"He's turned a competitive field into a rout really and it was great – he's going to be a lovely chaser.
"We've been playing around this year and minded him, and this has been the plan for a while. Whether we look at something at Aintree now or even Ayr or Punchestown, they are all possibilities, but I'm very much looking forward to him jumping a fence next year as I think he will be a smart one."
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