'I'd love to be champion' - Liam Harrison ready to fight for conditional title

Liam Harrison said he will do "whatever it takes" to be crowned champion conditional this season, and a first career double sent out a clear message of intent to his pursuers.

Harrison kicked off his 8-1 double with a confident ride on Head On in the 2m7f conditional jockeys' handicap chase, before he repelled a strong drive from Sam Twiston-Davies and Fine By Me to win the bumper on Fifrelet.

Harrison, who is based with Fergal O'Brien, is now four clear of nearest challenger Ben Jones.

"I'm over the moon," Harrison said. "My main objective every day is to get better and improve, but I'd absolutely love to be champion conditional and I'll do whatever it takes.

"I couldn't be happier, that's 17 now, and as long as we can keep that going at this sort of rate then I'll have a chance.

"Fergal's been brilliant, we steadied things up this season to give it our best shot."

Ian Williams provided Harrison with both winners on this card and Fifrelet could emerge as a smart prospect for the trainer's Worcestershire yard. He was recording his second bumper victory at this course, and Harrison thinks highly of the six-year-old.

He said: "He had to tough it out but I was wanting a bit of a battle as I found out last time he's a willing partner.

"He felt like a nice type and one you wouldn't normally ride at this time of year – or I wouldn't at this stage of my career!"

Supreme step

It may be mid-September, but Luttrell Lad sparked a Cheltenham Festival dream for the Owners For Owners syndicate after striking in the 2m maiden hurdle.

The Philip Hobbs-trained five-year-old was fourth in the Grade 2 bumper at Aintree last season and obliged on his hurdling bow at odds of 1-4 in convincing fashion. The win also completed a treble on the card for Tom O'Brien.

His first major target is likely to be the Persian War at Chepstow, but connections are hoping he will be a potential Supreme Novices' Hurdle contender come March.

"He's a lovely horse and he could've been closer at Aintree, too," said syndicate manager Jon Hughes. "The way the race panned out was ideal and he looks a very nice horse. Philip is hoping he might well be a horse for the Persian War, but we're also keeping our fingers crossed for the Supreme."

Perfect P

Jemima P put in an exemplary round of jumping in the 2m4f novice handicap chase to make it four from six over fences and is likely to tackle the top mares' chases next, according to trainer Emma Lavelle.

"She's some jumper," said the Wiltshire-based trainer of the 107-rated seven-year-old. "She has no pedigree but is a big mare who has wanted time.

"I'd like to look at some of those mares' chases a little later on, but she doesn't want the ground too soft. We'll see, but she's going to be forced to run in some nice races because of her rating."

Results, replays and analysis

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