First winner for Jacqueline Coward as 'my favourite' Eden Collonges hangs on

Trainer Jacqueline Coward enjoyed her first jumps winner under rules at the 47th attempt when Eden Collonges landed the 2m5f handicap hurdle.

Coward, who trains seven horses under rules, came within a half-length of breaking her duck last Tuesday at Sedgefield, but the breakthrough came courtesy of a determined effort from her 11-2 shot, who battled bravely to defy the strong-finishing Emissaire.

The winning feeling was nothing new for 7lb claimer Joe Williamson, who has now had three winners from his last five rides.

“I’ve always loved this little horse,” said the Yorkshire-based trainer. “He came to me as a two-year-old, we had him for years, broke him in and got him going. I’d been saying to his owner Ian Robinson that he will win when he gets his ground.

“Pointing is what I love doing but Ian is a rules man so we’ll probably keep him hurdling. He’s a great jumper so we could go chasing, but he’s little and I wouldn’t want to injure him – he’s my favourite.”

She added: “We ran him on the all-weather [jumpers’ bumper] last time and he didn’t run too badly. He’s quite a speedy little thing.”

Master in command

The feature 2m6½f handicap chase went to Court Master for Brendan Powell and Michael Scudamore, and the eight-year-old could be aimed at Aintree next.

Scudamore told Racing TV: "If he got in, we'd like to aim him at the Topham Chase given the way he jumps and stays. Whether he'd be high enough in the handicap to creep in would probably be doubtful, but we'll see."

Results, replays and analysis

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