‘Exciting times’ for Battle Born Lad camp after Haydock romp

Battle Born Lad looked a very promising prospect for Mark Walford in making all the running to win the Albert Bartlett Prestige Novices’ Hurdle at Haydock.

The clues were there that he was above average given he had beaten Jamie Snowden’s Wendigo on his hurdling debut at Hexham.

Wendigo has since finished second in the Challow Hurdle to The New Lion and won easily at Wetherby and will head to the Albert Bartlett at Cheltenham as one of the UK’s best hopes.

Battle Born Lad has been out of sight and out of mind since October and even in the absence of Derryhassen Paddy, withdrawn on account of the quickening ground, was sent off a 7-2 chance, with Moon Rocket the 7-4 favourite.

Jamie Hamilton ensured there was no hiding place in front and while the opposition stacked up behind him, he kicked on again two out and it was just a matter of getting over the final obstacle, which he did, to win by five and a half lengths from Moon Rocket.

Battle Born Lad took so little out of himself he unseated Hamilton after the line, but all parties were fine.

“He’s done nothing wrong up to now, the Hexham form had worked out well with Wendigo and other winners, so off that he deserved a chance in a race like this,” said Hamilton.

“Obviously, that was only two miles and it was three miles today, a huge jump up, but he handled it.

“He’s not an easy ride, he’s free going, he hangs, he always looks for a way out – as you could see after the line! He was still full of it in the paddock.

“I couldn’t believe how well I was going turning in, so I kicked him in the belly, just to make my life easier and try and straighten him up – and then it was just a matter of getting him over the last two.

“It’s exciting times, I think Cheltenham will come too soon but maybe Aintree.”