Former Irish trainer plays major role as N'golo wins Swinton Hurdle for Duffield

Saturday: Haydock

The first notable prize of the new jumps season might have stayed in Britain, but N'golo's Swinton Hurdle success was masterminded in Ireland.

The brains behind the shock 28-1 victory was former Limerick trainer Paddy Neville, who last year arrived with a small team of jumps horses at Ann Duffield's Flat stable in Leyburn, North Yorkshire.

Neville, who trained in Ireland for 15 seasons, was recently appointed Duffield's assistant and the pair celebrated a valuable success in the £100,000 contest with a horse bought out of the Willie Mullins yard for £14,500 last October.

"I'm delighted for everyone involved, the syndicate includes a few lads from Ireland and Ann is looking after us and we're getting on great," Neville said.

"I brought over horses last year and we had winners, so with the travelling costs we thought we'd stay with a few because there is more variety of races over here. I'm Ann's assistant at the moment and we're mostly National Hunt and Ann is Flat and we're all working together."

Neville showed the partnership is working after orchestrating a first win with N'golo since he landed a Grade 3 novice hurdle at Navan in November 2020 in the famous colours of Rich and Susannah Ricci.

"I had a lot of winners in Ireland including in a Grade 3 with Macville, who won four races, and I'm probably going to either join Ann on the licence or take my own out shortly," the 50-year-old added.

Big Royal Ascot move

Aldaary was cut to 8-1 (from 14) for the Queen Anne at Royal Ascot by Betfair after a smooth success on his seasonal comeback in the Listed Spring Trophy.

Following victory on the William Haggas-trained 2-5 favourite, Jim Crowley said: "He was entitled to do that on the ratings. I think he has to have cut in the ground and when he gets it he's a fair horse. Hopefully he can progress into Group company."

Aldaary scoots clear of his rivals in the Listed Spring TrophyCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Ireland next for Brad The Brief

Andrew Black ended his business partnership with Michael Owen but he retains an ownership interest at Manor House Stables through Brad The Brief, who made a successful return in the 6f conditions stakes.

The Hugo Palmer-trained five-year-old carried Black's Chasemore Farm colours to a comfortable victory over Group 1 winner Glen Shiel to set up a trip to Ireland this month.

"We've been waiting for the ground for him, he got the soft conditions he relishes and the race has worked out well," said Palmer's assistant Colin Gorman.

"He'll probably go for the Group 2 Greenlands Stakes at the Curragh on May 21."

Tom Dascombe, the former incumbent at Manor House, sent out his first runner since returning to Lambourn and taking up residence at Uplands, with Misty Grey finishing third in the Spring Trophy.

Highs and lows

Ian Williams had mixed fortunes on Britain's only mixed card with the joy of Mr Trick's win in the 7f handicap tempered by the injury sustained to recent Grand National meeting winner Party Business when finishing fourth in the 3m½f handicap hurdle.

"Party Business is on his way to the Newmarket Equine Hospital after suffering a fracture and we're hoping he's going to be okay," the trainer said.

Replays, results and analysis

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