Fingle proves Bridge too far for Regent’s Stroll at Exeter

Fingle Bridge inflicted a second successive defeat on the expensively-bought Regent’s Stroll in the trustatrader.com Novices’ Hurdle at Exeter.

A dual bumper winner for Paul Nicholls last season, Regent’s Stroll was sold as part of the Chris Giles dispersal last summer and was knocked down for £660,000.

He made an impressive debut over hurdles at Newbury in November, but could finish only fourth behind The New Lion as a hot favourite for the Challow Novices’ Hurdle at the Berkshire circuit over Christmas and therefore lined up on a recovery mission in Devon.

An 8-11 shot in the colours of the late John Hales, Regent’s Stroll made much of the running under Harry Cobden, but it was clear in the back straight that he had a real race on his hands after being challenged and passed by the Olly Murphy-trained Fingle Bridge (7-1).

The latter was stepping up to Listed class after low-key wins at Uttoxeter and Market Rasen and proved up to the task, knuckling down from the final flight in the hands of Sean Bowen to see off Regent’s Stroll by two lengths.

Coral cut Fingle Bridge’s odds for the Turners Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival to 20-1 from 40-1 – but he appears unlikely to turn up at Prestbury Park.

Murphy said: “He surprised me in the fact that I didn’t think he was sharp enough to win a pattern race over two miles, but I wasn’t surprised with the amount of ability he showed because he’s a horse we always loved.

“He was off the track for two years before this season and he is fragile, but he’s obviously got a lot of ability and hopefully, if he stays in one piece, he’s got a very a bright future, as I think he’ll improve for another half a mile and softer ground as well.

“I’d love to go to Aintree with him if it was soft over two-and-a-half (miles). I’m just not sure how he’d handle the undulations in Cheltenham because he’s got a very high action, unless it was very, very soft ground.”

Only By Night is likely to head to Cheltenham after landing the other Listed prize on the card – the Agatha Christie Mares’ Novices’ Chase.

Victorious on each of her two previous starts over fences, including a Grade Two win at Cork in December, Gavin Cromwell’s charge was a 10-11 favourite to complete her hat-trick and dug deep when challenged by fellow Irish raider Kilbarry Saint on the run-in to prevail by a length.

“I’m delighted to see her win,” said Cromwell.

“They went a good gallop I suppose and the front two (Only By Night and Fun Fun Fun) took each other on. I thought Sean Bowen was very good on the eventual second and I thought for a second after the last he was going to come and nick it, but our mare was brave and pulled out a bit more going to the line.”

Only By Night was cut to 6-1 from 8-1 by Coral for the Mares’ Chase at Cheltenham, a race Cromwell won last season with Limerick Lace and he looks set to be well represented in the Grade Two contest again.

He added: “She’d be on the list for that along with Bioluminescence, Limerick Lace and Brides Hill. They’ll all have entries anyway and we’ll see where we are nearer the time.”