Flying Monty provides pleasant surprise for Williams and Tudor

Trainer Christian Williams and Jack Tudor were given reason to cheer when Monty Guiry got up late to pinch the 3m1f maiden hurdle and provide the pair with their first winner since Kitty’s Light’s desperate misfortune in the bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown last month.

The 14-1 chance was making his debut under rules after moving to Williams from the Irish point-to-point scene and produced a flying finish to pip Inca Rose by a neck in torrential rain.

Williams said: We’ve only had him five weeks and you never know how they’re going to run first time, especially with the way we train them single file on the beach so this was a great surprise.

"He’s a chaser in the making and wants nice ground so he’s one to carry on with through the summer and we’ll find another race in the next few weeks."

The win was extra special for Tudor as Monty Guiry is owned by The Anthem Syndicate, which counts Tudor’s uncle among its members.

“It’s the first horse the owners have had for me. It doesn’t matter what the weather is when you have a winner,” Williams told Racing TV.

Double first

Dan Skelton, second in last season's trainers' championship, got off the mark for the 2021-22 campaign at the fifth attempt when Go Steady and Bridget Andrews prevailed in a ding-dong battle with Whoshotwho.

Nine-year-old Harry Haze produced another first when he broke his maiden in his 16th outing to provide Welsh trainer Phillip Dando with his second win in the last two months, after having gone two years without a winner.

Results, replays and analysis

Members can click here to download the digital newspaper every evening from 9pm. Not a member? Click here to sign up and enjoy the digital newspaper every day.