Rebecca Curtis made the perfect start to Welsh National day at Chepstow when plundering the Download Coral Mobile From The App Store Maiden Hurdle with O'Faolains Boy.
The trainer regards O'Faolains Boy as a better prospect for fences next season, but will monitor his progress with a view to looking at the Neptune and Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdles at the Cheltenham Festival.
Tony McCoy was challenged by Oscar Magic and Un Ami three flights out, where the last-named horse made a mistake, leaving O'Faolains Boy (7-2) to come home from Oscar Magic and Fourovakind in a time 29 seconds slower than the standard.
Curtis said: "I shall probably give him another run over the same sort of trip and then look at the two Cheltenham options. Whatever he achieves over hurdles will be a bonus, as I think you'll see a better horse when he goes over fences next season."
Although his Sin Bin ran below expectations in the opener, champion trainer Paul Nicholls wasted no time in striking back with 10-11 shot Keppols Hill doing the business under a confident Ruby Walsh in the Get rewards4Racing Points With Coral Beginners' Chase.
Considering he had fallen at the last with the race in the bag at Exeter and made a costly mistake on his only other outing this season, Keppols Hill jumped with alacrity, and another bold jump at the last clinched it as he stayed on strongly to beat Arthurian Legend by two and three-quarter lengths.
Nicholls was represented by his assistant Dan Skelton, who said: "He handled the ground and for a horse who'd had those jumping hiccups he was very good at his fences. He stays and keeps pulling out more, and will be suited by extreme distances. It would be no surprise if he ended up running in the Welsh National one day."
Victor Dartnall was out of luck with Giles Cross in the big race but enjoyed his first winner since his string returned to action after an outbreak of equine herpes when Seebright (9-2) took the concluding bumper under Ryan Mahon.
The trainer said: "I'm so delighted. I thought he was well. I was pleased with Giles Cross, but he just got a bit tired and Denis (O'Regan) pulled him up. It's our first winner back, so it's onwards and upwards. In the next fortnight we'll just tread carefully and then we'll really start to get going."
Venetia Williams' horses continue to run well and Carrickboy (7-1) relished the drop in trip in the Coral Mobile Text "Mobile" To 82211 Handicap Chase.
13 May 2013
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