Mirabad makes all to leave Luke Scott in dreamland

Luke Scott could not contain his delight after a bold front-running ride aboard Mirabad paid off in the Catesby Estates Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham.

The five-year-old, who is trained by Dr Richard Newland and Jamie Insole, was a 10-1 chance in a competitive field of 14 and wasted little time in establishing a significant lead.

He was still a long way clear as he rounded the home turn and while a few of his rivals, including the 4-1 favourite Wreckless Eric, attempted to bridge the gap, Mirabad’s lead ultimately proved unassailable, with Scott saluting the crowd as he passed the post with five and a half lengths in hand.

“That was amazing, I didn’t expect him to stay there (in front),” said Scott.

“He’s a horse that has such a high cruising speed, I was almost inconveniencing him trying to settle him in behind. Once he got into a rhythm out in front, I still expected to stop turning in, but I looked up at the big screen and saw we were 10 or 15 lengths clear and I thought ‘I’ve still got plenty underneath me here’ and he kept going.

“It’s an amazing feeling, you dream of riding winners here throughout your childhood and to be given the opportunity to ride one with a decent chance in one of these better handicaps is amazing.

“It’s a feeling that’s unrivalled, I think.”

Heather Main’s Numitor landed the final of the Unibet Middle Distance Veterans’ Series at Haydock in March and booked his place for next year’s decider by landing a qualifier.

Handy throughout under James Bowen, he was always on the heels of the positively ridden Copperhead.

Numitor looked to have put the race to bed over the final two fences and when Seddon failed to pick up, the race appeared over, but to his credit Copperhead rallied and only went down by a neck.

Main said: “We weren’t sure he would handle the track because he didn’t handle Sandown, but you’ve just got to take a chance, haven’t you?

“He won the Veterans’ Finale up at Haydock (in March) on holding ground, which he doesn’t like and he doesn’t jump as well out of it, but he still won it, so that was quite impressive.

“Our nephew Henry Main won here in a pony race, but this is our first winner here. It’s amazing.

“We’ll aim to go back to Haydock again, that would be the plan.”