'As good as what's been here before' - big targets await novice Brief Times

Saturday: Doncaster

The Tolworth is one of a few big-race options being weighed up by Neil Mulholland for Brief Times, after the exciting prospect completed a hat-trick under rules in commanding style at Doncaster.

Impressive performances at Ffos Las and on his hurdles debut at Exeter meant the five-year-old went off 2-5 for the 2m½f novice hurdle, and he pressed ahead of Global Famenglory by three lengths after a slick jump at the last. The pair were well clear of the rest.

Mulholland said: "He was very good. It was quite windy, so it was hard work and it was a great performance to make all. He gave a lot of weight away to the second too and I thought he jumped well.

"We'll look to step him up in level next, somewhere out over Christmas. The Tolworth is there and that's one option, but we'll wait and see; we wouldn't want the ground too soft as he's a good moving horse."

The trainer's best success with a novice hurdler was a Grade 2 victory with Shantou Village in 2015, and he believes Brief Times is equal to the best he has trained in that division.

"We had some nice novice hurdlers last season, Lord Accord did well and Solwara One won a nice race around here, but he's definitely as good as what's been here before," the trainer added.

Whitaker debut win

Simon Whitaker trained his first jumps winner, albeit in a 1m5f bumper, when Bryony Frost on Le Fils De Force held off Our Marty by two and three-quarter lengths.

Frost made it a double on the Paul Nicholls-trained Flic Ou Voyou in the finale, the 2m3f handicap chase.

Results, replays and analysis

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