English/Ire
‘He’s got it, he’s got the lot’ - Act Of Innocence books Cheltenham ticket with Sidney Banks success
Nicky Henderson looks to have another high-class novice hurdler on his hands after Act Of Innocence regained the winning thread in the Don Lockwood Sidney Banks Memorial Novices' Hurdle.
A bumper winner for Paul Nicholls last season, Act Of Innocence made a successful start for new trainer Nicky Henderson when defeating the reopposing Sinnatra at Newbury.
The son of My Dream Boat suffered a reverse to the hands of Paul Nicholls' promising youngster Minella Yoga over the festive period, but he made no mistake when stepped up to two and a half miles at Huntingdon this afternoon, travelling smoothly throughout in the hands of Nico de Boinville before quickening clear to score by three and three parts of a length from Glance At Midnight, with Sinnatra back in third.
"You can't fault this," said Henderson. "He's a beautiful horse and he's going to be some chaser in a year's time. I'd nearly feel like putting him away, but I don't suppose I'm going to be able to.
"I think going into Newbury it was going to be a tough task, but he did nothing wrong, he had to make the running, and it was a good experience for him.
"The thing here is that going up in trip has helped him. He's very talented though, he's got it, he's got the lot. You can't fault him so far, he's uncomplicated, got lots of class and looks the part."
Act Of Innocence now looks set to head to the Turners Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, with stablemate Old Park Star, who carries the same colours of Gordon & Su Hall, en-route for the Supreme Novices' following his Haydock demolition. Paddy Power cut the winner to 10/1 (from 12s) for the two and a half mile novices' hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.
"You would have to say the path is mapped out now, Old Park Star is ready to start to get serious again next week, and this was to see if Act Of Innocence could be the horse for the longer races," added Henderson, who was winning the contest for the fourth time having already landed it with the likes of Shishkin.
"In the very first race I thought this would be the quicker horse, but he's flip-flopped with Old Park Star, who seems to have plenty of pace and two miles round Haydock was no problem for him.
"I know this was not the toughest stamina test, but it's just shown he will stay."
Harry Derham's Jasmine Bliss vindicated her connections decision to step into Listed company when toughing it out in the Gin And Dubonnet Lady Protectress Mares' Chase.
A dual winner in bumpers and over hurdles, Jasmine Bliss ran a race full of encouragement when third on her chasing debut at Kempton last time out, but she still had 22lb to find on official ratings with market leader Paggane.
However, Paggane, who was eventually sent off a very easy to back 11/8 chance, never looked like landing a blow and as she backed out of things over the second last, both Jasmine Bliss and the strong-travelling Piper Park set down to fight it out.
Piper Park moved up to mount a threatening looking challenge going down to the last, but she couldn't reel in the gritty Jasmine Bliss, who pulled out plenty under Paul O'Brien to score by a couple of lengths in the colours of the Noel Fehily Racing Syndicate.
Westlain could have the Cheltenham Festival on his agenda after he returned to winning ways in the Hook Polo Novices' Handicap Hurdle Race at Huntingdon.
Trained by Jack Jones, the son of Ribchester travelled powerfully throughout in the hands of Lorcan Williams before stretching clear to score by five and a lengths.
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