There are bigger things in store for Jubilee Alpha after winning the Fitzdares Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle at Windsor.
Paul Nicholls’ six-year-old came into the race carrying a penalty after a Listed win last time out and was ridden by Harry Cobden as the 8-13 favourite.
The soft ground was perhaps not to her liking but she was still able to come to the fore, securing a length-and-a-quarter victory from Emma Lavelle’s Bluey to bring the Ryanair Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival into the picture.
“She wouldn’t be in love with that ground, I thought it was a good performance in the end,” Cobden said.
“She had a hefty penalty for winning that Listed race at Taunton, I loved the way she went through the race and Paul was convinced he can have her a lot better as he only had three weeks to get here today.
“That race at Cheltenham is probably made for her, isn’t it?”
Positive Riding
Nicholls told Sky Sports Racing: “She’s straightforward, she jumps and she travels and she stays on.
“There’s no reason to be negative riding her, if they go fast then the faster the better. She should stay on very strongly up the hill (at Cheltenham) which will suit her nicely.
“I know I can get her better for Cheltenham than today because we’ve only had three weeks from Taunton and we’ve got plenty of time to get her really right for the big day.”
Matata made light work of the Fitzdares Great Park Handicap Chase under top-weight of 12st for Nigel Twiston-Davies in the ‘double green’ silks of Simon Munir and Isaac Souede.
The seven-year-old was ridden by J J Slevin, not long retained by the owners, and started as the 2-1 favourite in a field of eight.
The duo took up a prominent position fairly early on and found no one was near enough to challenge as they strolled to a 10-length success.
Matata
“He’s very keen, but that was wonderful, he jumped well as he always does,” the trainer said.
“They went very quick and it wore a lot them out, I think there were excuses for a lot of them behind and I’m not just saying that for the handicapper.
“I think the owners may have another horse for the Champion Chase (El Fabiolo) so the idea is that we could go for the two-and-a-half-mile race at Aintree.”
Titan Discovery emerged from a difficult spell for his stable when winning the Weatherbys Racing Bank Handicap Hurdle for Robbie Llewellyn and Liam Harrison, striking by a head at 11-2.
“It’s been a tough season for us, the horses weren’t quite right so with the support of all my owners we shut up shop for six weeks,” said Llewellyn.
“That’s why he hasn’t run for so long, we took our time and it’s nice that we have patient owners who have given us the chance to get the horses right.
“He’s been a lovely horse for us and I always thought he had a good pot in him so to do it today was great.”
Harry Fry and Bryan Carver sealed a fine few days at the Berkshire Winter Million Festival, as Idaho Sun ran out an emphatic victor in the Fitzdares Berkshire Winter Million Open National Hunt Flat Race.
After Gidleigh Park at Windsor on Friday and Altobelli at Ascot on Saturday, Idaho Sun (7-2) made it three from winners from six runners over the three days for what is a burgeoning trainer-jockey partnership.
“I’ve always really liked him, he’s got a great attitude and takes everything in his stride,” said Carver.
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