By Peter Moore at Newbury 30th November 2024
Kandoo Kid provided Paul Nicholls with his first win in the Gold Cup since Denman back in 2009 after completing victory in this year’s event with a one and three quarter lengths victory to give Nicholls his fourth winner overall in the race as a trainer.
The eight-year-old under Harry Cobden was always travelling well after making his first start since finishing third in the Topham at Aintree in April and stayed on well to beat favourite Broadway Boy.
After the race, a happy Nicholls said the horse will now be aimed for a tilt at next year’s Grand National at Aintree.
The New Lion confirmed his promise by extending his unbeaten record to three after taking the Coral “We’re Here For It” novices hurdle over 2m four and a half furlongs for the Skelton’s.
All six runners had all won on their most recent start, but it was The New Lion who ran on gamely to get the better of Califet En Vol by three lengths.
Dan Skelton suggested after the race that the five-year-old could well go next for the Challow at the same course.
The win for The New Lion was the second leg of a double for the Skelton family after earlier taking the opener with Listentoyourheart.
The in form yard of Nicky Henderson continue to keep producing winners, with the Lambourn trainer bagging a double in the afternoon.
Bottom weight Wiseguy took the prestigious Sir Peter O’Sullevan Memorial Handicap Chase after a one and three quarter length victory under James Bowen.
Henderson, then had the pleasure of saddling Impose Toi to win the 2m four and a half furlongs handicap hurdle with Bowen aboard.
All eyes where then locked firmly on the big screens to the main event at Newcastle, the Fighting Fith Hurdle with Henderson’s Sir Gino up agains5 Willie Mullins Mystical Power.
A superb round of jumping saw Sir Gino continue his unbeaten run, with a relieved Henderson watching on, puffing out his cheeks at the end of the race.
Jockey Gavin Sheehan made it nine winners in the last 14 days after steering Navajo Indy to victory in the penultimate race off the day.
Seven days ago General Medrano returned from seven months off with wind surgery.
That seemed to have improved the seven- year-old who finished second in a 2m 3f chase at Haydock.
Today, the gelding went one better after winning the finale comfortably by nine lengths for Emma Lavelle with Ben Jones doing the steering.