By Peter Moore at Newbury Saturday 8th February 2025
The only mare in the race Joyeuse demolished her 16 rivals to take the Class 1 William Hill Hurdle run over 2m1/2f with a title prize fund of £155,000.
Under Nico de Boinville she moved into the race powerfully and drew level with the favourite Secret Squirel coming to the last. After jumping the final flight, the Hughie Morrison trained Secret Squirel fell leaving Nicky Henderson’s six-year-old clear to go on and win by eight lengths from Lump Sum.
The return to 2m seemed to benefit the mare who won’t be able to qualify to run at the Cheltenham Festival as she would require one more run to be eligible for a handicap hurdle at the festival, having run only four times over hurdles.
The win also made it seven victories for Henderson as a trainer in this race with last year’s winning connections JPMcManus celebrating another Class 1 win.
Djelo answered any doubts about his stamina to stay 3m with a decisive success in the Class 1 Denman Chase.
Racing over his longest trophy he has ever run over, Charlie Deutsch dropped the gelding at the back off the field. Exciting the back straight for the final time, Djelo looked to have much to do. But another patient ride from Deutsch gradually saw the horse switched to the right to quickly race past his rivals and go on and win comfortably by 3 ½ lengths from Hitman who has now finished second in a row for the third year running.
The win was another training success for Venetia Williams who has now gone past the Million pounds in prize money won so far this season mark.
Trainer Williams was impressed with Djelo’s finishing speed and suggested next stop would be the Cheltenham Festival.
“We left the tactics to Charlie and we didn’t want him to be too keen, so he dropped him right out and he settled beautifully. Once he set him alight, the turbo kicked in very quickly. We’ve got him in the Ryanair and Champion Chase and I would say it will be the Ryanair.”
When it comes to training winners, look no further than Neil King. The Burderop trainer made it four winners from his last five runners after Rubber Call took the opener by a length from Tutti Quanti in the 2m 1/2f novices hurdle.
It was a father and son occasion in the 3m stayers hurdle with Ben Sutton steering Santos Blue to success for his father Neil, who also bred the gelding.
Last year’s winner of the Game Sprint Steeple Chase Edwardstone was one of five runners lining up for the renewal of this 2m ½ f event.
The race was won by the Nigel Twiston-Davies trained Mister Chewy who got up on the line to get the better of Liberty Hunter by 1 ¼ lengths.
Back up in trip proved the perfect tonic for Lord Of Thunder who pulled away from the field to win by 1 ½ lengths in the 2m 7 1/2f novices Chase for Joe Tizzard.
In the finale on the card, Sober Glory made it four wins in a row after seeing of his ten rivals in the Bumper.