'He looked good' - Monte Igueldo delivers hat-trick for in-form training duo

Monday: Musselburgh

Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero are enjoying a productive first season together which has been made better by the improving Monte Igueldo, who is now unbeaten in three starts since the pair took out a joint-licence in April.

Having finished second to the now Paul Nicholls-trained Sonigino in France, Monte Igueldo initially failed to make an impact in his six runs for Greenall after switching yards in September 2021, but he made it three wins on the bounce this season with a commanding success here.

The five-year-old moved clear after three out in the 2m handicap chase to win by an eased-down seven and a half lengths under Henry Brooke to make it two from two over fences.

"He looked good today," Greenall said. "His jumping was better than it was last time and he settled and travelled well.

"I thought he would improve for fences, but I think he's just improved generally. His form from his run in France has been working out, but he's just taken a while to adjust.

"He's a nice big horse and other than that mistake at the last he looked good."

Brooke brought up a double in the following 1m7½f handicap hurdle for his trainer-brother Danny Brooke after guiding Sonning to a three-length victory.

Aptly named

After jumping the second-last, Brian Hughes may have thought he had the race in the bag aboard Hold Onto The Line, but he was forced to dig deep by the fast-finishing Massini Man in the opening 2m4½f handicap chase.

Living up to his name, the five-year-old found enough to hold on by a short head and bring up a hat-trick of his own for trainer James Ewart.

Hold Onto The Line (cheekpieces) holds off the challenge of Massini Man in the openerCredit: John Grossick

Hughes then doubled up with victory on the Donald McCain-trained Bents Hollow, who got the better of her two rivals in the 1m7½f mares' novice hurdle to justify odds of 1-6.

Results, replays and analysis

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