Hales mulling top targets with 'electric' For Pleasure after first chase win

Monday: Plumpton

Trainer Alex Hales has a welcome problem on his hands after For Pleasure delivered an impressive trademark front-running display when slamming Grade 2-winning chaser Nassalam by 37 lengths in the 2m1f novice chase.

Moments after Harry Bannister had helped make it third time lucky over fences, the six-year-old was halved in price by bet365 to 33-1 (from 66) for the Arkle at the Cheltenham Festival.

It would be a target made even more enticing as having won one of Plumpton’s bonus series races for novice chasers, For Pleasure would also be running for a £50,000 bonus should he win any chase at the festival.

Hales said: "I thought it was a very dominant performance. He’s electric around a track like that.

"It’s a difficult one. The bonus, as it’s supposed to do, has asked a few questions. We need to have a proper think with the owner, who I know will be very keen to run him in the Arkle."

A puff of the cheeks from Harry Bannister after For Pleasure's energetic round of jumping at PlumptonCredit: Edward Whitaker

A winner of a Grade 2 over hurdles before finishing third in the Supreme on his two visits to Cheltenham, For Pleasure could next run in the Lightning Novices’ Chase at Doncaster or the Kingmaker at Warwick according to Hales before his major spring targets.

He added: "I always thought Aintree might suit him better. I’m not sure I want to do both because I did that last year and he ran very flat at Aintree.

"I’m usually worrying about what I’m going to run in the 0-100 around Plumpton, so it’s a nice problem to have!"

Off the mark

Whistleinthedark provided trainer Richard Hawker with a first winner of the season on his stable debut under Brendan Powell as the pair held off the challenge of the Chris Gordon-trained favourite Sandy Brook.

Racegoers were in the festive mood at Plumpton on MondayCredit: Edward Whitaker

It capped a frustrating day for connections of Sandy Brook, whose owners Goodwin Racing sponsored the meeting, as Aucunrisque was narrowly beaten in the opening 2m novice hurdle when Stream Of Stars landed back-to-back wins over hurdles for Nigel and Sam Twiston-Davies.

Bowen brace

Sean Bowen rode a double on the card, headlined by Hey Bob's victory in the 2m handicap hurdle as the gelding won for Olly Murphy for the first time since switching from Chris Grant's yard.

Bowen got on the scoresheet again when the Harry Fry-trained Fairy Gem, a sister to Angels Breath, got up to win the bumper by a neck to the relief of punters, who heavily backed the debutante into favouritism on Sunday evening.

Results, replays and analysis

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