Classy hurdler Volnay De Thaix had to work hard to land the odds against two rivals and make a successful debut over fences at Doncaster.
Classy hurdler Volnay De Thaix had to work hard to land the odds against two rivals and make a successful debut over fences at Doncaster.
Last seen claiming third spot behind Jezki in the Grade One Aintree Hurdle in April, the Nicky Henderson-trained six-year-old was given a test as the three runners served up a tasty treat.
Katgary set a steady pace in front but Volnay De Thaix and Pine Creek were always in touch and the trio jumped the last together. It was there the class of Volnay De Thaix (4-11 favourite) kicked in and Nico de Boinville was able to push him out for a two-length victory from Pine Creek, with Katgary a further six lengths away.
De Boinville said: "He's won cosily enough. We haven't gone quick either and in that dead ground it's not suited us. Off a quicker pace I think he would have been jumping a lot better. The other two in the race are not slouches so it was good."
Henderson was also on the mark with another promising novice in Vyta Du Roc at Bangor, while he numbers the smart Vaniteux among his squad in that division.
Speaking from Cheltenham, he said: "Vyta Du Roc jumped perfectly apart from the last, while Volnay De Thaix jumped and travelled well. Those were respectable races and although they were class four events, they were far from easy. They are two seriously nice horses, though.
"Vaniteux I am sure will go to Kempton on December 27 for the Wayward Lad as he is the two-mile horse, while Volnay De Thaix looks to be the two-and-a-half-mile type and Vyta Du Roc the one for three miles."
The Graeme McPherson-trained Ikorodu Road (8-1) rolled back the years as he snatched victory from long-time leader Beeves in the betdaq.com 2% Commission Handicap Chase under a power-packed David Bass ride.
Winner of the Grimthorpe over the course and distance in March 2012, the 12-year-old had seen better days but showed he still retains plenty of ability as he wore down Beeves to gain the verdict by three-quarters of a length.
"He's got good course form and he was well-handicapped on his old form. I always thought I was going to get there, he stays all day," Bass said.
"Three-mile-two round here is ideal. He was winging his fences and that's why I was holding my position because he was jumping so well."
Bass was completing a double having earlier forced Kim Bailey's Flemensmix (15-8 favourite) to edge out Polarbrook by a head in a thrilling finish to the betdaq.com 50% Commission Refund Novices' Handicap Hurdle.
"He's tough and with all that weight. He got put up for winning and then got put up again when the second horse came out and won. He's done well to win off top weight," the jockey told At The Races.
"He's gone up 10lb so it was a good performance. He battled on well, I think he'll get further and he'll probably be better going right-handed."
To rub salt into the wounds for the agonising defeat, Polarbrook's jockey Sean Quinlan was banned for two days (December 28 and 30) for careless riding.
Another jockey in double-winning form was Jack Quinlan, who steered Unbuckled and Iron Butterfly home.
Unbuckled (5-2), trained by Neil King, finished with a flourish to go past Aldeburgh on the run-in, taking division two of the betdaq.com £25 Free Bet Maiden Hurdle by three and three-quarter lengths.
Quinlan took James Eustace's Iron Butterfly (9-2) to the front three out in the Download The Betdaq App Mares' Handicap Hurdle and went on to score by five lengths from Chantara Rose.
Waltz Darling (3-1) got up on the line to deny Cerunnos by a nose in the Betdaq - Serious About Sport Handicap Chase for trainer Keith Reveley and his jockey son James. In a dramatic race, conditional riders Lizzie Kelly and Dale Irving were taken to hospital to be checked out after taking tumbles from Little Windmill and Lord Wishes respectively.
The JP McManus-owned Winter Escape (15-8 favourite) made a successful jumps debut in division one of the betdaq.com £25 Free Bet Maiden Hurdle.
Alan King's four-year-old led at the final flight and went on to score by an impressive three and three-quarter lengths from Deauville Dancer in the hands of Wayne Hutchinson.
Red Devil Boys (100-30) registered his fourth course triumph as he led two out and held Boruma by three-quarters of a length in the Cash Out With Betdaq Handicap Hurdle for trainer John Ferguson and jockey Aidan Coleman.