MCFABULOUS STAMPED HIS class on the Dornan Engineering Relkeel Hurdle at Kempton this afternoon.
The Grade Two bumper winner was disappointing on his first couple of starts over obstacles last winter, but having got his act together in the new year with wins at Market Rasen and in the EBF Final at Kempton, he made a successful return in October’s Persian War at Chepstow.
The seven-year-old’s winning run came to an end in the Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury the following month, but he was far from disgraced in finishing third behind the top-class pair of Thyme Hill and Paisley Park, and he was the 10-11 favourite to land this Grade Two prize, rescheduled from Cheltenham’s abandoned New Year’s Day card.
There were a few worrying moments for his supporters during the early stages, with a couple of untidy leaps putting McFabulous on the back foot and briefly taking him to the rear of the field under Harry Cobden.
But the Paul Nicholls-trained gelding made stealthy headway racing down the back straight and eased clear in the end – passing the post with just over two lengths in hand over On The Blind Side.
Earlier, Sage Advice made a victorious jumps debut in the Watch Racing Free Online At Ladbrokes Juvenile Hurdle.
The Dr Richard Newland-trained four-year-old added to his sole Flat win for former handler Joseph Murphy with a stylish success in the two-mile prize.
Travelling well throughout, the 7-4 favourite only needed shaking up by Sam Twiston-Davies on the run to the last before going on to score by six lengths.
Twiston-Davies said: “He took to it well, jumped well and relaxed well. He picked up the horse of Olly Murphy’s (Tinnahalla) quite nicely and jumped the last well and got the job done, which was the main thing.
“What I was impressed with was how he quickened up on quite holding stuff. We could have a look (at something like the Adonis).
“This is a new owner to the Newland team and he has plenty of juveniles and he compares quite similarly to a lot of the others, so hopefully he can progress.”
Barbados Buck’s will have his sights raised on his next start after completing a hat-trick for the season in the Play Ladbrokes 1-2 Free On Football Novices’ Hurdle.
Having registered back-to-back wins at Southwell, the Nicholls-trained six-year-old once again demonstrated stamina is his forte in the extended three-mile prize as he successfully shouldering a 10lb penalty to victory.
One of a handful of runners in with a chance turning for home, the 2-1 favourite responded well to pressure between the final two flights before drawing clear to defeat runner-up Fedelta by four lengths.
Nicholls said: “He is a three-mile chaser in time. It was a fair thing to keep galloping with a 10lb penalty like that. He is just a nice horse.
“He was fit and well and handled the soft. These sort of horses wouldn’t want it quick.
“There are plenty of good races for him, but he wouldn’t want to run for a month to six weeks.
“I hadn’t thought about it (Albert Bartlett), but Harry (Cobden, jockey) said we should probably give him an entry.”
Master Tommytucker secured the biggest success of his career with a fine front-running performance in the Ladbrokes Silviniaco Conti Chase.
The lightly-raced 10-year-old made it three wins from five starts over fences this season by taking his form to new levels with victory in the Grade Two.
All eyes were on Imperial Aura, who was bidding for a second success at the level, but the evens favourite was an early casualty after parting company with David Bass at the second fence.
Jumping well out in front, Master Tommytucker continued to extend his advantage with his two remaining rivals hard at work in behind him entering the home straight.
Despite getting the last all wrong, the 2-1 shot was quickly gathered in by Harry Cobden before crossing the line 12 lengths clear of Clondaw Castle.
