Mister Fisher bounced back to his best to land the feature race on the opening day of The International Meeting at Cheltenham, the Grade 2 Peterborough Chase. Originally due to be run at Huntingdon before that fixture was abandoned due to flooding, the 2m 4f contest was swiftly rescheduled to form part of a bumper eight-race card at the home of jump racing.
Nicky Henderson’s six-year-old had some top class form to his name last season when winning twice before finishing a cracking fourth behind the top-class Irish trio of Samcro, Melon and Faugheen in the Marsh Novices’ Chase at the Cheltenham Festival back in March. He had failed to shine when pulled up on his reappearance in last month’s Paddy Power Gold Cup at Prestbury Park on unsuitable testing ground, but with the going this time in his favour showed his true colours under a confident ride from Nico de Boinville.
After travelling strongly throughout, Mister Fisher (9/2) took up the running in the home straight and found plenty when pressed on the run-in to fend off the late challenge of 5/2 favourite Kalashnikov by 1 3/4 lengths.
After equalling Henrietta Knight’s record of eight Peterborough Chase victories, Seven Barrows handler Henderson said: “That was good. It was a good race. When he ran in the Paddy Power, I think it was combination of his first run and very soft ground.
“They went a good gallop all the way. He jumped great. He is learning and he is a young horse on the up. Nico says the Ryanair is the race for him and I’ll go with that. He doesn’t want to go three miles. He says that is enough, so it looks like the Ryanair road.”
Paddy Power cut Mister Fisher to 12/1 from 20/1 for the Ryanair, but bet365 are currently still offering 20/1 about him for the Grade 1 contest on Thursday, March 18. I think that represents excellent each-way value.
Irish raider Some Neck sprang an 18/1 shock when coming with a late rattle to get up close home and land a thrilling renewal of the Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Chase. The former Willie Mullins inmate was having just his third start for John McConnell and looked booked for minor honours rounding the home turn as Defi Des Carres tanked along at the head of affairs and looked in an unassailable lead.
However, after jumping the last the petrol gauge started to empty and Some Neck stormed up the hill under an all-action Ben Harvey to get up in the shadows of the post and score by a short-head. There was a sting in the tail for young rider Harvey, who was suspended for 11 days and fined £400 for using his whip above the permitted level from approaching the final fence. McConnell did not make the trip to Cheltenham and instead watched the race at Dundalk. He said:
“It’s great for the owners – this is their first winner. We took a risk buying him out of Willie Mullins’. He’s always been a horse with a big engine, but he can throw in two or three mistakes, certainly over the conventional fences. He just seems to be a little bit more concentrated going cross-country racing.
When asked if he would be back for the Cross Country Chase at the 2021 Cheltenham Festival, McConnel added: “I’m sure he will – he’s entitled to after today. Obviously the big guns are going to be back out then, but I think the Cheltenham hill is made for him, so it’s certainly something we’ll look at.” Some Neck is a standout 33/1 chance with William Hill for the Cross County Chase on Wednesday, March 17.
Storm Control landed some tasty bets in the Grade 3 Unibet Handicap Chase, but not before giving his supporters and rider Richard patrick with some anxious moments after jumping the last when in a clear lead. The Kerry Lee trained seven-year-old attempted to pull himself up half-way up the run-in, giving eventual second Potters Legend and favourite Court Maid unexpected chances of landing the spoils However, when joined by that pair, Stom Control (5/1) pricked his ears and found extra under a power packed ride from Patrick to score by a length.
The Johnny Farrelly trained six-year-old Breffniboy (15-2) completed a four-timer in the Catesby Handicap Hurdle to provide jockey Tom Buckley his first win at the track. After 32 failed attempts, Alan Johns also celebrated his first winner at the venue when 33/1 shot Madera Mist landed the CF Roberts Electrical & Mechanical Services Mares’ Handicap Chase.
Trainer Tom George and jockey Noel Fehily teamed up to land yet another win together with Come On Teddy (11/2) in Citipost Handicap Hurdle, whilst the Kim Bailey trained 13/8 favourite Happygolucky returned to winning ways in the International Decorative Surfaces Novices’ Chase.
Make Me A Believer (16/5) showed real battling qualities to deny the hat-trick seeking Any News by a length in the British EBF “National Hunt” Novices’ Hurdle. Both look really nice prospects in my eyes who look sure to win more races and need keeping firmly onside.