Daryl Jacob is extremely excited to be given the opportunity to ride Impaire Et Passe in the Matheson Hurdle at Leopardstown on Friday.

Only four are due to go to post in the two-mile Grade One, and three of those are trained by Willie Mullins.

It is an event Mullins has farmed in recent years – since 2010 he has won all bar three renewals, with Hurricane Fly and Sharjah winning four apiece.

Last year the champion trainer was successful with State Man and he lines up once more as the choice of Paul Townend.

That meant the ride on last year’s hugely impressive Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle winner Impaire Et Passe was free and as retained rider to owners Simon Munir and Isaac Souede in the UK, Jacob was in pole position.

Impaire Et Passe lost his unbeaten record on his seasonal return in the Hatton’s Grace, and Mullins has taken the decision to drop him in trip to two miles. But Jacob feels the testing ground will make it more of a stamina test.

“I’m very much looking forward to riding him. He’s a very exciting horse for Simon and Isaac and everyone and this is another step on the ladder for him,” said Jacob.

“He’s racing over two miles for the first time in a while, but I’ve been in Ireland all week and there has been a lot of rain.

“The hurdle course on Wednesday went soft then heavy, but he has handled that sort of ground, he’s won over further and he has got speed.

“He’s a hugely exciting horse and I’m very grateful for the opportunity, I can’t wait to ride him.

“I rode him out on Thursday morning, he seems in really good form and I really don’t see the ground being an issue at all.”

Jacob has enjoyed a particularly fruitful spell of late and is operating at a strike-rate of over 40 per cent for the past two weeks, and he would love to top it off with a Grade One.

“I’ve had a nice few winners of late, but a Grade One win before the new year would be lovely,” he said.

Understandably given his choice, Townend feels State Man sets the standard given the only horse who has finished in front of him when he has completed since joining Mullins is Constitution Hill.

He told his Ladbrokes blog: “He seems to set the standard this side of the water. His only defeat was by Constitution Hill last year. It’s interesting he’s being taken on by Impaire Et Passe.

“I thought Impaire Et Passe ran with a lot of credit in the Hatton’s Grace in Fairyhouse. He has a run under his belt and State Man won the Morgiana.

“It’s a big test, but State Man played at the top table all last season and sets the standard. The pair are sure to make a good race of it.”

Mullins also runs the mare Echoes In Rain, while Gordon Elliott’s Fils D’oudairies is the only other contender.

Cheltenham and Newbury are two possible ports of call for Shishkin following his following his luckless run in the King George VI Chase at Kempton.

The nine-year-old was leading the field after jumping the penultimate fence in the Boxing Day highlight, only to stumble a couple of strides after the obstacle and unseat Nico de Boinville.

That was Shishkin’s first run of the campaign after he refused to start at Ascot in November and trainer Nicky Henderson felt he would have been staying on all the way to the line were it not for his mishap.

He said: “Shishkin is fine. I was a bit concerned that he might have hit something and occurred some damage but he doesn’t appear to have done so I’m 100 per cent happy on that front. It was just one of those things I guess.

“I’m not going to say he would have won, but the consensus of opinion is that he probably would have done as he wasn’t stopping.

“He was really coming up at every fence, and he seemed to be travelling well. I’m pretty sure he would have kept on galloping as he galloped all the way to the line at Aintree.

“Our biggest concern was that he hadn’t had a run. When he has not had a run he controls us, but we are now in control as he has got that run under his belt and he will be a much easier horse to train.”

Shishkin was having just his second start at three miles at Kempton, having previously delivered eight chase victories up to two miles and five furlongs, including the 2021 Arkle, the 2022 Clarence House Chase and the 2023 Ascot Chase.

Henderson switched Shishkin to three miles and a furlong for the Aintree Bowl back in April and he has the Paddy Power Cotswold Chase (January 27) and the Betfair Denman Chase (February 10) over staying trips on his mind.

The trainer said: “I don’t know what to do at the moment and we are just mulling it over. I don’t think we will come back in trip for the Ascot Chase, even though he did win that last year.

“You have got the Cotswold Chase at Cheltenham and the Denman Chase at Newbury and they are the only two real possibilities for him before the Gold Cup.

“It will either be one of them, or none of them, but what he needs is experience and a nice clear round.”

While Shishkin was out of luck at Kempton, Jango Baie ensured the team did secure Grade One glory in the Formby Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree.

Previously run as the Tolworth at Sandown in January, the rescheduled and renamed contest produced a fine finish as Jango Baie held off Favour And Fortune by just under three lengths in the hands of James Bowen.

Henderson could now look to edge up in distance from an extended two miles with the four-year-old, as the trainer has strength in depth in the novice hurdle sphere with the likes of Jeriko Du Reponet and Willmount taking high order.

“It was great for James Bowen to get his first Grade One as he is a big part of the team here at Seven Barrows. He deserved it and so did the horse, while it was great to get a Grade One for his connections,” said Henderson.

“I’d like to see him run over a little bit further as I’m not sure that trip was far enough for him at Aintree.

“I’ve got a couple of other nice prospects to run this weekend, so we will see what they do then we will make a plan.”

Fastorslow will miss the Savills Chase at Leopardstown due to the testing ground.

Martin Brassil’s charge was due to clash with fellow staying heavyweights Galopin Des Champs and Gerri Colombe in a blockbuster renewal of the extended three-mile contest.

However, after 11 millimetres of rain in the last 24 hours, the ground at Leopardstown is now described as soft, soft to heavy in places – prompting Brassil to rethink running plans.

Fastorslow would have been meeting Galopin Des Champs for a third successive start, having beaten him in both the Punchestown Gold Cup at the end of last season and in last month’s John Durkan Chase on the pair’s respective seasonal bows.

Having been tasked with moving Humble Lion Football Club up the Wray and Nephew Jamaica Premier League (WNJPL) standing, veteran tactician Vassell Reynolds will be banking on his familiarity of the players and the club’s culture, as a unique platform to succeed.

Reynolds, who stepped away from coaching in the nation’s top-flight league after a previous spell with another Clarendon outfit Vere United, makes a long-awaited, and welcomes the new challenge, as he took the reins from Andrew Price at the Effortville-based Humble Lion.

“While I've not coached at the premier league level for some time due to personal reasons, I've always wanted to come back, and planned to, once a possible ideal opportunity presented itself. I believe coaching at this level is most coaches dream and it is a really good opportunity to test your capacity as a coach, so I welcome the challenge and I am very much looking forward to it,” Reynolds told SportsMax.TV.

Reynolds first assignment in charge at Humble Lion, is away to promoted outfit Lime Hall Academy at Drax Hall complex in St Ann, on Wednesday, a fixture which he could use to find his footing and, by extension, overturn the club’s fortunes from a three-match losing skid.

But beyond that, Reynolds’ main objective is to possibly secure a top six position at the business end of the season. At the time of writing, Humble Lion, who made the playoffs last season, and just missed out the season prior, were ninth with 11 points, on the 14-team standing.

“Our immediate aim is to steady the ship a little and to get some good consistent performances in, while we do little bit of refreshing up of the structure of the team. The target is to hold down a position in the top six, a position that we believe the team is more than capable of achieving,” Reynolds noted.

“The coaching environment in Jamaica, and especially at this level has always been challenging...I'm well aware of that, hence, I'm prepared mentally and plan to give it my best effort,” he added.

To achieve any semblance of success during his tenure, Reynolds, who also coaches Kingston College at the schoolboy football level, is very much aware that getting players to adapt to his philosophy will be essential.

But he foresees very little issue in that regards, as he once guided the club to the semi-finals in the 2015/16 season of the then Red Stripe Premier League.

“The club is based in the parish that I'm from...I've coached there before, and I am very familiar with some of the players and the culture of the club. So, I am basically off to a good start, and based on discussions with all parties involve and what I've seen so far, I'm pretty confident that my philosophy will be accommodated,” Reynolds declared.

Meetingofthewaters provided his owner Paul Byrne with another big payday after scooting to victory in the Paddy Power Chase at Leopardstown.

With a total prize fund of €200,000 up for grabs, the three-mile contest is one of the most valuable handicap chases of the season in Ireland and once again attracted a bumper field of 27 runners.

Meetingofthewaters (6-1) was rated just 112 when snapped up by Patrick Mullins out of Eugene O’Sullivan’s yard earlier in the year – and while he was well beaten in his first two starts over fences in his colours and under the tutelage of his father Willie, he was a well-backed favourite when making it third time lucky in lesser company at Cork last month.

Having since been sold to a close friend of the Mullins family in Byrne, who has previously enjoyed big-race success with the likes of The Shunter, Corbetts Cross and Feronily, the six-year-old travelled smoothly into the straight under Danny Mullins and dug deep from the final fence to see off the rallying Panda Boy by four and a half lengths.

Mullins said: “It’s a fantastic result for Paul Byrne. Patrick has a lot to do with (training) this fellow, but I think he was hoping he’d be a Kim Muir horse and that is gone out the window now!

“It’s great prize-money and a tremendous prize to win with a horse like that.

“Paul is great at seeing gaps in the market when buying horses. He’s able to spot horses rather than paying big money. He has an eye for a horse and is able to put a deal together. He probably looks for horses in places that other people don’t.

“He won nicely in Cork and was a young horse improving all the time. It’s a bit of a lottery when you go into a race like this but when you get in at those weights it’s always worth having a crack.”

Meetingofthewaters was one of three winners on the card for the champion trainer, with Mark Walsh steering Dinoblue (9-4) to Grade One success in the Paddy’s Rewards Club Chase and Joystick toughing out victory as the 11-8 favourite in the concluding bumper under Patrick Mullins.

Mullins, who enjoyed an across-the-card seven-timer on the day with four winners at Limerick, said of Joystick, he said: “He was third in a point-to-point and we went down to see him at the Doyles. He’s a nice staying type and a real chaser in the making.

“He’s a real long-striding, old-fashioned chaser and a nice acquisition. He’ll stick with bumpers this season.”

Intellotto made a successful start to his career over obstacles in the Paddy Power I Have No Idea What Day It Is 3-Y-O Maiden Hurdle.

Placed twice from three starts on the Flat for trainer Joseph O’Brien, the 10-1 shot travelled smoothly on his jumping bow and passed the post with four and a half lengths in hand under Daryl Jacob.

Paddy Power make Intellotto a 25-1 shot for the Triumph Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

O’Brien said: “The ground was softer than we thought it was going to be but it was a lovely debut. Daryl taught him a lot and he jumped pretty well on the whole.

“I think the logical step would be to come back here for the Dublin Racing Festival.”

The Eoin Griffin-trained One Last Tango (4-1) carried the JP McManus colours to victory in the Paddy Power Who Put The Wrappers Back In The Box Handicap Hurdle, completing a double on the card for the leading owner and jockey Mark Walsh following the earlier Grade One success of Dinoblue.

Griffin said: “He had a promising run on his return when finishing fourth at Navan and he’s come on a little bit from it.

“I was a bit concerned about the ground today, but he handled it well and it’s brilliant to get a winner here at Christmas for JP. It’s been a while since we had a Christmas winner and we’re over the moon.”

Emmet Mullins will work back from another tilt at the Randox Grand National with Noble Yeats following his pleasing return to action at Limerick.

The eight-year-old won the world’s most famous steeplechase at Aintree in 2022 and finished fourth in both the Cheltenham Gold Cup and when defending his Grand National crown last season.

Making his first appearance since the Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris in May, Noble Yeats reverted to the smaller obstacles for the Party Time Hurdle – and while his stable star was beaten by Sa Majeste as a 10-11 favourite, Mullins was satisfied with his performance.

He said: “He took a blow, needed it and hopefully that gets the season going and we can target the spring festivals on better ground.

“He ran his race, was bang there to the second-last hurdle, which he missed, but took a blow after that and needed the run.

“Hopefully there is more to come with him.”

Mullins appears less keen on preparing his charge for the Gold Cup as he looks to get him back to Aintree in April at the top of his game.

He added: “It didn’t work taking in both last season, so I’m thinking about the Grand National more so this year.

“Today’s race was over two and a half miles and on that ground it will leave its mark on him, so we won’t be rushing him back.”

The Simon Torrens-ridden Sa Majeste (11-2) was one of four winners on the card for Mullins’ uncle Willie, with Adrian Heskin aboard Judicieuse Allen and Hauturiere and Jody Townend in the saddle for bumper winner Hens Tooth (4-9).

Judicieuse Allen finished with a wet sail to justify 6-5 favouritism in the Goggin Buckley Mares Maiden Hurdle, while Hauturiere (11-2) took Grade Two honours with a dominant display in the McMahons Builders Providers Irish EBF Dawn Run Mares Novice Chase.

Heskin said: “I am very grateful to Willie for the opportunities today. I knew at the start of the season it wouldn’t be easy to get going (back in Ireland), but I’m getting great support from a lot of smaller trainers.

“That (Judicieuse Allen) was my first ride for Willie. I ride out two days a week there, a day a week in Henry De Bromhead’s and another day in Tony Martin’s and anywhere I can for the other days.

“It is great to be getting the backing of Willie Mullins and after today’s winners, it has been a good year.”

A treble at Leopardstown meant Mullins enjoyed an across-the-card seven-timer in all.

On Friday, December 22, Olympic gold medalist Briana Williams brought yuletide joy to the community of Flankers in Montego Bay, St James, as she transformed the Flankers Football Field into a Christmas wonderland for her fourth annual Christmas treat.

With the generous support of Digicel and Grace Foods, over 300 children from the community were treated to a day filled with fun, frolic and musical entertainment.

Williams also brought gifts for each child and, of course, refreshments from Grace Foods and Digicel included popcorn, snow cones, hot dogs, sorrel and other delights also brought smiles to the community.

The inspiration behind Montego Bay came from Williams' mother, Sharon Simpson, who hails from the second city. Williams was also joined by Dancehall artist Tommy Lee Sparta, who is from Flankers. He shared a message of love and togetherness for those in attendance.

Williams was overjoyed to bring cheer to Montego Bay again.

"We provided gifts as always to Paradise and Norwood but had the event at the Flankers football field this year, as it is a more central location. Despite the rain, it was well-attended, a shower of blessings. The children were so much fun to share gifts with and dance with. I already can't wait for next year," she declared.

"Montego Bay is special to me, and I hope this event reminds the little ones of the meaning of Christmas. It's about sharing with others and spreading joy wherever you go," Williams added.

Nassalam capped an afternoon to remember for trainer Gary Moore when showing stamina in abundance to run out an ultra-impressive winner of the Coral Welsh Grand National at Chepstow.

The Lower Beeding handler had already enjoyed Grade Two success at the South Wales track and also seen his Clarence House Chase winner Editeur Du Gite bounce back to his best to defend his Desert Orchid title at Kempton before Nassalam headed out as the 9-2 joint-favourite for the afternoon’s feature.

Some 4lb well-in under a penalty for winning the Welsh National Trial at the course earlier this month, the six-year-old was tracking the pace set by the front-running Amateur in the early stages of what was a typically testing renewal of the marathon event.

Passing their point of departure for a second lap of Chepstow, it was only the John Flint-trained Amateur and Paul Nicholls’ Complete Unknown, scraping the paint on the inside, that were recognisable from their silks as the gruelling conditions began to take a toll.

Owned by John and Yvonne Stone, Nassalam joined Amateur midway down the back and led those left standing into the home straight for the final five fences, with Sam Thomas’ 2021 hero Iwilldoit and Complete Unknown in hot pursuit.

A blunder from Complete Unknown soon knocked the Ditcheat challenger out of contention and although Iwilldoit gamely gave chase, Nassalam was not for catching as he extended clear up the Chepstow straight.

He was 15 lengths to the good jumping two out and extended that advantage to 34 lengths as big-race jockey Caoilin Quinn added another facile triumph to Salver’s victory in the Grade two Finale Juvenile Hurdle only 40 minutes earlier.

Jonjo O’Neill’s Iron Bridge eventually claimed the silver medal, with Iwilldoit in third, but the afternoon belonged to the mud-loving Nassalam who was introduced at 25-1 by both Paddy Power and Betfair for the Randox Grand National at Aintree.

“Last year he never had his ground and I probably ran him over the wrong trip, probably on the short side. But I think blinkers and soft ground have brought out the improvement in him,” said Moore.

“I was watching it in the parade ring at Kempton and I was just pleased when he got over the last. Watching I thought he was handy enough and he had to go six furlongs further than he did last time, but obviously Caoilin knows more than me.

“He’s a very good rider and his 3lb is very useful. He’s a good lad. The owner has been very loyal to him and let him ride the horse and he’s repaid them for it.

“He’s still only a young horse and I would like to think there will be a bit more improvement to come.

“I need to speak to the owner and he’s not going to be easy to place now, so we will need to have a chat to decide where we go next. But in the back of my mind I would like to train him for a National. If it is like when Red Marauder won it then that would be perfect.”

Of his memorable 73-1 treble, which came in the space of an hour, he went on: “They are few and far between so you have to make the most of it.

“We’ll go home now and I’ll probably go back to the yard, make sure everything is all right and give them a hand. Then I’ll go to the gym tonight, just go for a swim, and then get a bit of dinner.”

Winning rider Quinn added to Sky Sports Racing: “I winged the first and got in the ideal position just behind the leaders and I couldn’t believe how well he travelled.

“We jumped the middle one down the back and we jumped into the lead and I was kind of thinking I don’t want to be there so soon, but he was going so well – I wish I’d had a look now, I won by quite a bit. What a great performance.

“I think the ground is a big factor and I said to Gina (groom) when it was squishing on the ground, he loves this. He just seems to travel so much better on it, he properly loves the mud.

“I’m delighted, over the moon, from winning the Grade Two the last race to this, I can’t believe it and I’m very emotional. It is all thanks to my boss and Mr and Mrs Stone for trusting me. I’ve ridden plenty of big winners for them and for them to keep me on, I’m very grateful.”

Editeur Du Gite put in a bold front-running display to land the Ladbrokes Desert Orchid Handicap Chase at Kempton for the second consecutive year.

Despite being burdened with top weight of 11st 12lb, Gary Moore’s 5-1 chance battled on bravely to prevail by three lengths.

After Malystic was pulled up early on, Editeur Du Gite and Elixir De Nutz set a solid pace in the Grade Two contest.

Market leader Boothill’s bid to complete a hat-trick of victories this term ended when he fell at the fifth-last.

Up the home straight, it was the jumping of Editeur Du Gite which proved decisive, as two great leaps under Niall Houlihan put him in the clear.

Elixir De Nutz, on the other hand, made errors late on and was caught for second by Nube Negra in the closing stages.

“All the staff worked hard over Christmas and to see him come back today was very special, especially in a handicap,” said Moore.

“I think it was because he was able to lead today and dominate without being forced to. The other horse kept him company and just kept him honest.

“He will probably get further on a sharp track like this, so you’ve got to make plenty of use of him and he was always going to stay on.

“His next race will be the Game Spirit at Newbury, because he is slightly better going left-handed.

“Then you’ve got to have an entry in the Champion Chase, because he’s not getting any younger and it’s probably his last chance.”

Nicky Henderson will target a record-extending eighth victory in the JCB Triumph Hurdle with Sir Gino following the French recruit’s successful British debut at Kempton.

A winner at Auteuil in the spring, the three-year-old was a 4-9 favourite to double his tally on his first start for new connections in the ladbrokeslive.co.uk To Win Free Music Tickets ‘Introductory’ Juvenile Hurdle.

Sir Gino did not always shine in the jumping department under Nico de Boinville, but ultimately had far too much firepower for his rivals and passed the post with 14 lengths in hand.

Henderson said: “He is a lovely horse and his life is in front of him. You could say he nearly wants a fence already, but we won’t be doing that for the time being.

“He can sharpen up a lot, as he was a little bit novicey a couple of times. He was either spectacular at them or he kicked the hurdle out, there was no in between.

“He is a big horse, and he needs to fill into his frame. He does look like a chaser, but hurdles are what he will be going over for the time being.”

Paddy Power trimmed the winner’s Triumph Hurdle odds to 8-1 from 10-1 and Henderson confirmed his intention to work back from the Cheltenham Festival.

The Seven Barrows handler added: “He will need to go up in grade now and we can’t pussy foot around with him. You would have thought that the Triumph Hurdle will be where he goes.

“He is not a typical Triumph Hurdle horse, as he is not an ex-Flat racer. He is a proper horse.

“I’d think he will be okay with everything at Cheltenham, but I would like to give him at least one or two more runs before we go there.”

Tweed Skirt gave Henderson a double on the card when winning the Ladbrokes Get Best Odds Guaranteed Handicap Chase at 4-1 under Robert Dunne.

Aurigny Mill was a 9-1 winner of the opening Ladbrokes Boost Your Odds On Racing Handicap Hurdle for trainer Victor Dartnall and jockey Fergus Gillard.

Dartnall said: “I’ve always thought he was up at this level. This is the second run of his career that we have had a problem-free run up to.

“He had bruised feet all last season between every run, but we have got on top of all that. My son’s partner rides him out most days and she said he was as good as ever, and she has got it right.

“His owner Sally Weld has been brilliant to us, but she has not been very well. She is actually on a cruise at the moment and I think she is somewhere in the Caribbean.

“I think this will put the horse in at the bottom of the weights of some of the big handicaps.”

Nassalam showed stamina in abundance to run out an ultra-impressive winner of the Coral Welsh Grand National at Chepstow.

Sent off the 9-2 joint-favourite under a 4lb penalty for winning the Welsh National Trial at the course earlier this month, Gary Moore’s six-year-old was tracking the pace set by the front-running Amateur in the early stages of what was a typically testing renewal of the marathon event.

Passing their point of departure for a second lap of Chepstow, it was only the John Flint-trained Amateur and Paul Nicholls’ Complete Unknown, scraping the paint on the inside, that were recognisable from their silks as the gruelling conditions began to take a toll.

Owned by John and Yvonne Stone, Nassalam joined Amateur midway down the back and led those left standing into the home straight for the final five fences, with Sam Thomas’ 2021 hero Iwilldoit and Complete Unknown in hot pursuit.

A blunder from Complete Unknown soon knocked the Ditcheat challenger out of contention and although Iwilldoit gamely gave chase, Nassalam was not for catching as he extended clear up the Chepstow straight.

He was 15 lengths to the good jumping two out and extended that advantage to 34 lengths as big-race jockey Caoilin Quinn added another facile triumph to Salver’s victory in the Grade two Finale Juvenile Hurdle only 40 minutes earlier.

Jonjo O’Neill’s Iron Bridge eventually claimed the silver medal, with Iwilldoit in third, but the afternoon belonged to the mud-loving Nassalam who was introduced at 25-1 by both Paddy Power and Betfair for the Randox Grand National at Aintree.

“I winged the first and got in the ideal position just behind the leaders and I couldn’t believe how well he travelled,” the winning rider told Sky Sports Racing.

“We jumped the middle one down the back and we jumped into the lead and I was kind of thinking I don’t want to be there so soon, but he was going so well – I wish I’d had a look now, I won by quite a bit. What a great performance.

“I think the ground is a big factor and I said to Gina (groom) when it was squishing on the ground, he loves this. He just seems to travel so much better on it, he properly loves the mud.

“I’m delighted, over the moon, from winning the Grade Two the last race to this, I can’t believe it and I’m very emotional. It is all thanks to my boss and Mr and Mrs Stone for trusting me. I’ve ridden plenty of big winners for them and for them to keep me on, I’m very grateful.”

Salver relished the gruelling conditions as he remained unbeaten over hurdles with a destructive display in the Coral Finale Juvenile Hurdle at Chepstow.

An impressive winner at both Warwick and Exeter before having his sights raised for this Grade Two contest, he was made the 5-4 favourite in the hands of Caoilin Quinn following the late defection of ante-post Triumph Hurdle favourite Burdett Road on account of the deteriorating ground.

Gary Moore’s charge continued his trend of racing at the head of affairs as he disputed matters with Anthony Charlton’s Balboa, and on turning for home Salver’s class came to the fore as he took the lead three out and took off into the distance.

Balboa to his credit continued to plug on for second but Salver was in splendid isolation as he came home for an unchallenged 21-length success.

It was the second Grade Two of the season for fledgling jockey Quinn, while Moore was winning the race for the second time in three years, with Salver cut to 16-1 from 33s by Betfair for the Triumph Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

“I can’t believe it and it’s unbelievable how it has happened,” said winning owner Keith Graves told Sky Sports Racing.

“Gary said have a look at this horse and I bought it and he’s won three on the spin and looks like he could go on.

“The jockey said ‘I think I could have gone faster’ which is nice. It’s been fantastic. I was involved with the Heart Of The South syndicate for six years and then I’ve been with Salver for two months and had three wins, so it’s unbelievable. It’s bigger than I imagined, fantastic.

“It’s a shame about the favourite, but you can only beat what’s in front of you. Our paths will cross in the future, but we will see what happens.”

Master Chewy made light work of his rivals to run out a decisive winner of the Ladbrokes Wayward Lad Novices’ Chase at Kempton.

Nigel Twiston-Davies’ six-year-old has bumped into the high-class novice Djelo and on-song Elixir De Nutz since scoring at Aintree earlier in the season and was sent off at 13-8 to get back to winning ways in this Grade Two event.

Master Chewy’s rider Tom Bellamy was content to bide his time as Bourbali and Sarah Humphrey’s Nickle Back matched strides up front, putting on an exhibition of jumping.

However, Master Chewy was hot on that duo’s heels after four out and with Bourbali giving way after the third-last, Bellamy was stalking Nickle Back down to two out before sauntering his way to the front approaching the last.

A huge leap at the final fence put the seal on victory as he came home four-and-three-quarter-lengths clear of the 6-5 favourite for a taking success.

Caldwell Potter dented some lofty reputations with victory in the Paddy Power Future Champions Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown.

The Grade One contest has been won by a whole host of top-class performers in recent years, with Sizing John (2014), Appreciate It (2020) and Caldwell Potter’s ill-fated sibling Mighty Potter (2021) among those on the roll of honour.

Another quality renewal was in prospect, with Daddy Long Legs, fellow Willie Mullins representative Predators Gold and Gordon Elliott’s Down Memory Lane all protecting unbeaten records, but it was the latter trainer’s apparent second string who claimed top honours under Jack Kennedy.

A 6-1 shot following a comfortable victory at Navan on his most recent outing, Caldwell Potter took over from long-time leader Westport Cove leaving the back straight, with the supposed bigger guns waiting in the wings.

However, Predators Gold was the only horse able to go with Elliott’s grey turning for home and with a bad mistake at the final flight ultimately ending his challenge, Caldwell Potter was well on top as he passed the post with six and a half lengths in hand.

Down Memory Lane was a long way back in third, with Daddy Long Legs disappointingly pulled up.

Elliott said: “Jack just kept it simple and said he loved the ground. He galloped them into the ground. He’s a nice horse and loved the conditions.

“I wasn’t surprised, as he won well in Navan. We’ll enjoy today and then have a think about where we go next. I could see him stepping up in trip at some stage.”

Betfair gave the winner an 8-1 quote for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham next March, while Coral introduced him into their Ballymore betting at 12-1.

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