Trelawne sees off Iroko in Haydock thriller

Kim Bailey was thrilled to see Trelawne come of age after prevailing in a thrilling tussle with Iroko in the Betfair Exchange Graduation Chase at Haydock.

The Andoversford handler has never made any secret of the regard in which he holds Trelawne, who was last seen suffering a heavy early fall as a leading fancy for the Ultima Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, a race won by his stablemate Chianti Classico.

While Bailey revealed his eight-year-old’s confidence was knocked by that spill, there was no sign of it on Merseyside as he travelled and jumped with elan on the front end under Tom Bailey.

Jonjo O’Neill jnr attempted to play his cards late aboard the similarly promising 11-8 favourite Iroko, who drew alongside 7-2 shot Trelawne on the run-in, but the latter refused to yield and passed the post half a length to the good.

“I was delighted with him, we’ve been praying for the rain for a long time. Yes we’ve had our issues, but he’s a very talented individual and he was a grown up horse today,” said Bailey.

“He’s always had the talent and I just think he’s that year older. That fall at Cheltenham frightened him and he was a very sore horse for a long time afterwards, so we gave him a long time to get over it and I just feel he’s come back a different horse from the summer.

“He’s worked well and done everything right. He went to Cheltenham with a great chance, I hated having two runners in the race and when this horse fell I’m afraid I didn’t see the other horse do a whole circuit as I was watching him. I love him.”

Considering future plans, the trainer added: “This horse has to have soft ground and there’s a big race in him somewhere along the way.

“I think the Cotswold Chase (at Cheltenham in January) would suit him really well, but we’ve got a long way to go yet. He was only rated 144 today, the handicapper will have a few words to say after today, but he’s a progressive horse.

“He’s got a few quirks, but that’s why he’s a good horse.”

Roadlesstravelled looks an exciting prospect for Jonjo and AJ O’Neill to go to war with judged on an all-the-way victory in the Betfair Supports Safer Gambling Week Newton Novices’ Hurdle.

The five-year-old cost his connections a pretty penny at £215,000 after winning an Irish point-to-point in May of last year, but he has made a fine start under rules after 17 months off the track.

After following up a successful hurdling debut at Market Rasen with a dominant victory at Wetherby three weeks ago, Roadlesstravelled was a 7-4 favourite to complete his hat-trick at Grade Two level and was soon bowling along in front in the hands of Jonjo O’Neill Jnr.

Harry Skelton and Country Mile was the only one able to go with the leader in the home straight and already looked to be coming off second-best when making a mistake at the final obstacle.

The result was never in doubt thereafter, with Roadlesstravelled finding plenty on the run-in to score by three lengths.

While keen not to get carried away, there was a glint in his trainer’s eye afterwards, as he said: “He’s in good form and likes the good ground. We’ll let him do the talking really, but he’s a nice horse to have.

“He jumped OK, but I think he’d be a bit slicker on good ground. Personally I think he’ll get further, but he’s doing alright at two miles, so we’ll keep him at that for now.

“If you were to sit on him on Monday morning you’d know you were sitting on something as he’s fairly lively, but he’s a great horse with a good attitude and just loves life.”

Paddy Power and Betfair introduced Roadlesstravelled into their Supreme Novices’ Hurdle market at 40-1, but O’Neill is in no rush to make firm plans, adding: “Let’s see how we go, I would say we’ll miss the heavy ground over the winter and bring him back after that.

“I wouldn’t mind looking at a Betfair Hurdle, but he’d have to have another run in between, so we’ll see what the weather does.”

In deteriorating conditions, Dr T J Eckleburg was a 14-1 winner of the Bet At Your Best With Betfair Handicap Chase for Evan Williams and Conor Ring, while Steel Ally continued the good recent run of trainer Sam Thomas and jockey Dylan Johnston in the Betfair Racing Podcasts Handicap Hurdle.

The latter was a 6-1 shot off the back of finishing second to stablemate Lump Sum in the Welsh Champion Hurdle and displayed a willing attitude to see off the challenge of Beat The Bat by three lengths.

“He’s a nice horse who was on a career-high mark and stepping up in trip. The whole way here I was wary of the rain falling, but he dug in and did it well. He’ll be better on nicer ground,” said Johnston.