Well Refreshed gave local punters something to shout about with an easy victory in the At The Races Sussex National at Plumpton.
Trained by Gary Moore in West Sussex, the nine-year-old, sent off a 6-1 chance, looks a staying chaser going places. Given a patient ride by Moore's son Joshua, he joined the leading group with three left to jump.
Pettifour was his main challenger, but Moore jnr made a positive move, soon putting the race to bed, and despite a sloppy leap at the last he came home 28 lengths clear, with Double Dizzy running a cracker in third.
Gary Moore said: "That was a great result, it's probably the only National I'll ever win though! It's good for the horse and the yard. A lot of people deserve a fair bit of credit, from the vet through to Joshua. I couldn't be more pleased.
"That was his aim really, but if he comes out of that race OK - he usually needs a fair bit of time between races - he could go for the Somerset National at Wincanton, but it might come too soon. We'll just have to see."
Earlier, the Moore-trained De Blacksmith (9-2) won the attheraces.com & British Stallion Studs EBF 'National Hunt' Novices' Hurdle (Qualifier) in a tight finish from Shuh Shuh Gah, this time under Jamie Moore.
The rider told At The Races: "I was second in the last race (on Vino Griego) so it's nice to come out on the right side, especially for the owner Mrs Kiernan, who won the Lanzarote Hurdle for us (Shahrur, 1998).
"It was a bit messy, I was bumped around, but he he's done well to win as I think I used up seven or eight hits and then I had to put the whip down and look like a fairy for the last 100 yards. Luckily he just had enough in reserve."
Vino Griego was just run out of it after the last by Alan King's Salden Licht (6-4) in the ATR Novices' Chase. The Robert Thornton-ridden winner now qualifies for a bonus if he were to go on and win at the Cheltenham Festival, as King did with Voy Por Ustedes.
Tony McCoy was on the scoresheet in the At The Races Sky 415 Novices' Hurdle on Jonjo O'Neill's Mr Watson, the same horse who gave him a nasty facial injury at Wetherby earlier this season. He totally outclassed his opposition, beating stablemate Get Back In Line by eight lengths.
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