AGRA LOOKS THE PART FOR LIZZIE...
Byline: NEIL MORRICEAGRAPART revelled in the heavy ground to power home under Lizzie Kelly and post a 16-1 surprise in the Betfair Hurdle at Newbury. The lightly-raced gelding had prepared for the PS155,000 contest with a third-placed finish in the Tolworth Hurdle at Sandown. It was a run that convinced Nick Williams Agrapart was cherry-ripe for this mission.
With Sternrubin unable to establish his customary lead, having been intimidated by Dicosimo's charge to the first flight, Starchitect led the field into the home straight, pursued by Agrapart.
The latter was clearly full of running and after flying the second-last was in full control at the business end, scoring by 11 lengths.
Flying Angel took third spot, another length-and-a-quarter away, with the unlucky-in-running Affaire D'Honneur fourth. Williams explained that he bought Agrapart after being given instructions to purchase him at Deauville.
He said: "It was an order without any warning and I drove to the Arcana Sales and back overnight in what was a 48-hour turnaround without stopping.
"I always planned to bring him for this after his Aintree win last year.
"He had enough pace from the start and Lizzie was very much aware of the importance of getting a good position.
"She has ridden a few big handicap winners, such as Tea For Two in the Lanzarote, and knows what's required."
Williams, who is 22-year-old Kelly's stepfather, has not entered Agrapart at Cheltenham.
"With only four career runs he was inexperienced for a race as competitive as this, but I knew with the way he won at Lille that he would be fine in the ground," he said.
The Betfair Denman Chase lacked a proper Cheltenham Gold Cup candidate, but having chased home Coneygree 12 months ago, Houblon Des Obeaux (3-1) demonstrated his liking for Newbury by dominating the Grade Two contest in the final mile.
Ten lengths clear four out, he extended his advantage to 28 clear of The Giant Bolster at the line.
Trainer Venetia Williams said she would look at the Crabbie's Grand National, for which he is trading at around the 33-1 mark, but is mindful the assessor might have his say after this dominating display.
She said: "He's entered at Aintree and we'll see, but it's a fair way off, not next week.
"This horse loves Newbury and several factors played to his strengths. The cheekpieces, the small field and the testing conditions were all in his favour, and on his run behind Coneygree a year ago he was the one to beat."
Top Gamble (11-10 favourite) lived up to his named when jumping his rivals silly in the Betfair Exchange Chase.
It was yet another big Saturday winner for first-season trainer Kerry Lee, his target at Cheltenham is the Ryanair Chase. Paddy Power were quick to cut him to 16-1 from 50-1 for that race after Richard Johnson brought him home 10 lengths clear of Dodging Bullets, who was having his first race since winning the Queen Mother Champion Chase 11 months ago.
Lee said: "The key to him is what we do with him at home. He does something different every day and yesterday he really attacked the fences in a schooling session that told me he was spot on.
"I think the row of fences down the back and the cross fence here also bring out the best in his jumping.
"It's all systems go for the Ryanair now."
Gavin Sheehan guided Out Sam (3-1) to a cosy victory over two rivals in the Better Odds With Betfair Novices' Chase to give trainer Warren Greatrex pretensions of an RSA Chase challenge.
The concluding bumper might have cast some light on the Champion Bumper next month as Ballyandy (11-8 favourite) looked in no danger after taking a grip on affairs early in the straight.
Nigel Twiston-Davies' charge brought up a high-profile double for the trainer after he was earlier successful with Count Guido Deiro (11-1).
CAPTION(S):
| Lizzie Kelly riding Agrapart pulls clear to win The Betfair Hurdle at Newbury
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| Title Annotation: | Sport |
|---|---|
| Publication: | Sunday Mercury (Birmingham, England) |
| Date: | Feb 14, 2016 |
| Words: | 670 |
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