Ahoy there! One For Arthur team strike again at National meeting

Four years after teaming up to win the Grand National for Scotland, Lucinda Russell and Derek Fox returned to spring a Grade 1 shock.

One For Arthur was a 14-1 shot when landing the National in 2017 but Ahoy Senor started at 66-1 for the 3m Doom Bar Sefton Novices' Hurdle.

You cannot blame the oddsmakers: the six-year-old Ayr winner was having only his second run over hurdles and might have run at Hexham last week instead had the ground not become too quick.

He relished this easier surface and never looked any sort of outsider as he was soon in front, jumping and galloping with bundles of zest, and keeping on relentlessly to beat 13-8 favourite Bravemansgame by seven lengths.

"Isn't he just a super horse?" Russell said. "He just gallops and jumps. I saw his point-to-point win and he did the same. This was only his second hurdles run but we had such confidence in him at home.

"He ran so well over two miles four at Ayr and we knew he'd keep on galloping. I can't believe we managed to get him beat in a bumper but jumping takes him to another level. I can't wait for him to go chasing."

Russell's last Grade 1 win came with Brindisi Breeze, a 33-1 winner of the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle in 2012, who was killed before he could go on and prove his worth.

"This is a physically bigger horse and we've already schooled him over little chase fences and he's been point to pointing," the trainer said.

"I'd like to think that next year is going to be really exciting with him."

Russell had more than just her share of the £42,000 first prize to celebrate as she said: "Of course I backed him. I don't do very big bets but 66-1 was quite insulting."

Foster in form

Denise Foster, who has four runners in the Randox Grand National, struck with her only runner on the second day of the meeting when Tronador took the 2m4f handicap hurdle at 22-1.

The good-ground specialist, ninth in the Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle last season, was having just his second race of the campaign and scored in a style that hinted at a profitable spring.

Tronador wins at 22-1Credit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

"He won well," said jockey Jack Kennedy. "All went very smoothly; he jumped well and got a lovely run through. We went a nice, even gallop and that helped my lad because it helped him stay in the race.

"He wants this sort of ground and only in the last two weeks have we had the weather to get the ground for him. He's a nice horse for these spring festivals."

Kennedy rides Farclas for Foster in the National and said: "I think he'll run a big race if he stays."

A touch of class

Rowland Ward won his first race of the season in the conditional jockeys' and amateur riders' hurdle.

"He's just not had the rub of the green at times this season," said trainer Stuart Edmunds. "He's got a bit of class."

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