'He might even win a National' - big hopes for hat-trick ace Sounds Russian

Friday: Kelso

Sounds Russian completed a hat-trick over fences without coming off the bridle in the 2m7½f novice handicap chase, to strengthen the dream he could one day develop into a National type.

The seven-year-old won in emphatic style, drawing clear from nearest rival Niceandeasy by 22 lengths under Callum Bewley, with his hat-trick achieved with a combined 48-length winning margin.

Trainer Ruth Jefferson said: “He handles this ground, he stayed the trip and he’s got a bit of stamina as well as speed. He just bobbed his way around and enjoyed it.

“We think we're going to go to Ayr for the Scottish National meeting [on April 2], there’s a [3m] novice handicap chase that should suit him. It'll be a better race and hopefully a bigger field to give him a bit more experience.

“He’s a lovely prospect, when I sold him to the [Claxby and Co] syndicate I sort of said he would be a Rowland Meyrick or a Peter Marsh-type. He might even win a National!

“I don’t know, I said we might have a go, just for the craic.”

Champion chasing

Brian Hughes extended his lead in the jump jockeys' championship to 75 with a double on the card.

He struck on the Donald McCain-trained Grey Skies in the 2m novice hurdle before partnering debutant Ain't No Sunshine, for Keith Dalgleish, to a length victory in the finale.

Results, replays and analysis

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