Bookies take evasive action after highly touted Jeriko Du Reponet bolts up on debut for Nicky Henderson and JP McManus

Nicky Henderson has another highly promising youngster on his hands in the "beautiful" Jeriko Du Reponet, who won Friday's maiden hurdle with supreme ease.

Henderson, who has now won the race seven times in the last ten years with the likes of Buveur D'Air and Jonbon, had labelled his 12-1 odds for the Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle before making his rules debut as "absolutely stark raving ridiculous".

Jeriko Du Reponet, who is owned by JP McManus, has a way to go to hit the heights of some of Seven Barrows' past and present stars who were successful in this race, but he is now a single-figure price for the Supreme at the Cheltenham Festival in March.

The 12-1 for the Supreme disappeared after the race with most bookmakers trimming him to 8-1 for the festival opener. He is a best-priced 10-1 with Coral.

Delighted connections with Jeriko Du Reponet in the Newbury winner's enclosureCredit: Mark Cranham

Some hype surrounds the four-year-old and, of the 4-11 favourite, Henderson said: "I don't know where it's all come from, but I suppose I shouldn't have brought him here for that gallops morning recently or I should have said he was something else. He just cantered round with Dusart and finished five lengths in front of him, but I wouldn't be far off doing that as Dusart isn't a great workhorse.

"We all know that wasn't the greatest novice hurdle run at Newbury, but he's the most beautiful horse – he's stunning. His attitude to life is very good and he's a lovely, lovely horse. I'm very lucky to have him."

Jeriko Du Reponet, who won a point-to-point in March, could next run at Kempton on December 26.

Hermes Allen made a successful chasing debutCredit: Edward Whitaker

Nicholls dilemma

Hermes Allen impressed in the Coral John Francome Novices' Chase, but what comes now is something for Paul Nicholls to think about.

Successful in the Grade 1 Challow Novices' Hurdle last term, he is 8-1(from 16) with Paddy Power for the Turners Novices' Chase at Cheltenham in the spring.

"I would have gone from here to the Dipper at Cheltenham on New Year's Day, but that race is now gone," said the champion trainer.

"Where do I go now? It's not an easy thing. He could go to Cheltenham this month and then I might wait for the Scilly Isles, but I can't remember the new programme after Christmas.

"I'm not sure I'm keen to go three miles with him yet, but he's a good horse and even though he won the Challow on bottomless ground, he does like better ground. He's obviously smart, but he wasn't right in the spring."

Nicholls and stable jockey Harry Cobden completed a double when Kandoo Kid landed the the 2m4f handicap chase.

Gordon Elliott was at Newbury on FridayCredit: Edward Whitaker

Elliott off the mark

Gordon Elliott has done plenty in his amazing career, but train a winner at Newbury was something he had not achieved until Wodhooh landed the Listed fillies' juvenile hurdle.

A Grand National and Cheltenham Gold Cup-winning trainer, Elliott had saddled just eight runners at the track prior to breaking his duck with the The Sundowners Partnership-owned daughter of Le Havre.

"I've not had many here," he said. "She'll have to improve to be a Triumph Hurdle filly, but there's plenty of prize-money to win and this race has been the plan for a while. It's an amazing pot with £25,000 to the winner, so it's great to be here."

Nice prospect

Sam Thomas has fond memories of this meeting and was thrilled to register a winner in the 3m handicap hurdle with Ed Keeper.

Thomas enjoyed one of his greatest days in the saddle when Denman captured what was the Hennessy Gold Cup in 2007 and, in Ed Keeper, he boasts a fine prospect.

The trainer, who has two live chances in the Coral Gold Cup on Saturday with Our Power and Stolen Silver, said: "I was very impressed and he's a lovely horse for the future. Our main aim will be chasing next season and hopefully he can line up in a Coral Gold Cup one day."

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