By Peter Moore at Lingfield Park Tuesday 11th November 2025

Minella Marathon made a sparkling debut under rules for Dan Skelton after taking the opening race on Lingfield Park’s jumps season opener on Tuesday afternoon.

The four-year-old, the winner of his sole point-to-point start in March and the first runner for the stable in the famous Ronnie Bartlett silks, won by three and a quarter lengths under Harry Skelton at odds of 5-6.

The £200,000 purchase showed inexperience in the closing stages but proved a class apart from his rivals, and adds to an expanding roster of novice hurdling talent for the yard following Supreme favourite Mydaddypaddy’s success at Carlisle on Monday.

Harry Junior the aptly named half-brother to Grade 2 winner Harry Senior, got off the mark at the sixth attempt when landing the Class 5 2m7f handicap hurdle.

The five-year-old made all under Jack Tudor for trainer David Pipe to win by two- and three-quarter lengths.

Pipe, just missed out on claiming a double on the card when top weight Gold In The Rivers finished five and a half lengths behind kalif D’Airy, who was making his first appearance over fences.

Having steadily edged down the weights, The Big Reveal off a mark of 79 was successful under Joe Anderson for Grace Harris in the 2m 7 ½ f chase.

Approaching the final fence, the seven-year-old disputed the lead with I’m Your Buckaroo, before pulling clear up to the line to win by three lengths.

Olly Murphy’s winning run continued after the Wilmcote trainer landed the 2m 7f handicap hurdle with Ikarak, who managed to hold on by a nose from last year’s winner of the race Spike Jones.