Ascot winner Belliano ‘very much one for the future’

Belliano showed a great deal of promise in taking the Howden Maiden Hurdle on the opening day of Ascot’s Christmas meeting.

A wide-margin bumper winner last season, the Paul Nicholls-trained gelding runs in the Bravemansgame silks of Bryan Drew and is owned in partnership with former star chaser Frodon’s owner Paul Vogt.

As the 4-5 favourite he progressed well throughout the race and rider Harry Cobden always looked comfortable as he took up an easy lead to avoid drama behind him over the last flight and score by a length and a half.

“He’s a nice horse, he’s just very much one for the future,” said Nicholls.

“We wouldn’t want to overdo it this year. He ran very well (first time out this season), we didn’t really know how we had him then because he’s not one to show a lot at home.

“He ran very well then, I haven’t run him since purposely because he needed time to get over that run and again he wouldn’t want to run quickly after today.

“He’s a big baby, a shell of a horse, but he will make a lovely staying chaser in time.”

Nicky Henderson’s festive period got off to a happy start as East India Express landed the Howden Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle.

The five-year-old showed real potential as a bumper horse and on his hurdling debut last season, but was last seen unshipping Nico de Boinville at Punchestown in the summer.

He returned to action with a first handicap start at Ascot, ridden by Freddie Gordon in a 13-strong field.

A good round of jumping served the 7-1 chance well and he stayed on gamely under a well-timed ride to prevail by a head.

“First of all, Freddie gave him a lovely ride,” said Henderson.

“He did it really well. He is in on Boxing Day, but it was Jerry McGrath who said ‘for god’s sake run him now, you won’t get a penalty!’. He was right!”

Gordon then struck again to claim a notable double, winning the Racetech Handicap Hurdle for his father, Chris, aboard King William Rufus (7-1).

The seven-year-old had been the runner-up of his last four starts, but there was no chance of him meeting with the same fate at Ascot as he strolled to an easy six-length victory.

“It’s a serious day, this is. It’s not often you have a double, but a double at Ascot is a serious thing,” said the rider.

“I won a little bit too far. I was going around the bend, we were going a serious gallop, not going slow, and he was tanking off with me.

“Round the last bend I thought we might have gone a tad too quick, but when I saw the screen I thought ‘bloody hell, we’re absolutely cruising!’.

“He’s jumped brilliantly today, which was the main problem when he first started as he jumped horrendously, but now he’s lovely. What a horse.”