Classy hurdler The Cob ends 'long time in wilderness' with easy chase debut win

Tuesday: Uttoxeter

Grade 2-winning hurdler The Cob ended a near two-year drought when making a successful debut over fences with a dominant front-running victory in the 2m4f novice handicap chase.

The eight-year-old had not won since the Grade 2 River Don Novices' Hurdle at Doncaster in January 2021 but bounced back to his best with some exuberant jumps to score by 13 lengths from Lanzarote Hurdle winner Cobblers Dream.

"He travelled great throughout and did that really well," said winning trainer Ben Pauling. "We'd been wanting to go over fences with him for a while.

"I'm hoping he can progress as he's not lost any of his ability, but he had spent a long time in the wilderness. He was handicapped to run a good race and hopefully he can go and improve again from here."

It was a fortuitous spare ride for Tingle Creek-winning jockey Tom Cannon, with original rider Kielan Woods expecting the birth of his child at any moment.

Pauling added: "Kielan's wife went into labour today. We're wishing them all the best and hope everything goes well for them."

More Skelton success

Harry Skelton continued his red-hot form in the saddle with a rapid double on the card for his brother Dan.

The duo combined to score with Hitching Jacking in the 2m4f novice hurdle, before Missed Tee followed up in the opening division of the 2m maiden hurdle, which took the jockey's strike-rate to 32 per cent over the last fortnight.

Results, replays and analysis

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