Toby Lawes excited about prospects of 'lovely' Ballyglass after bumper success

Monday: Southwell

Trainer Toby Lawes continued his unbeaten start to the new year when the exciting Ballyglass justified 3-1 favouritism in the 2m bumper under Tom O'Brien.

Placed in three Irish bumpers for Sam Curling, the five-year-old is looking a shrewd purchase at £60,000 by Anthony Bromley from the Tattersalls November sales at Cheltenham and is starting to reward the patience of owner Robert Kirkland.

Lawes, who also won with Nashville Nipper at Plumpton on Sunday, said: "Robert loves chasers but he really enjoyed what we did with Kannapolis, so he originally said could I could try something similar and buy him one off the Flat.

"We were at all three horses-in-training sales at Newmarket in the summer and the sort of horse we were looking for didn't quite fit in our price bracket.

"Robert said to be patient and wait which was perfect and suited me. We went to Cheltenham and found this lovely horse. There were actually three at that sale that I would have loved to have taken home, roughly in our budget, and we were very lucky to get one of them."

A step up in grade for the Listed bumper at Newbury on February 12 could be next on the agenda but Lawes is more excited for the long term.

He added: "He's still quite unfurnished, so hopefully there's plenty more to come over the next few years. He's every inch a Saturday chaser for the future."

Skelton pair off the mark

Dan and Harry Skelton scored their first winners of 2022 when enjoying a double on the card. Signal Point scored on her first start over obstacles in the 2m4½f maiden hurdle for mares before the well-backed Colonel Manderson sealed the double in the 3m½f novice handicap hurdle.

Results, replays and analysis

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