'He's still a work in progress' - raw Altobelli makes winning start over hurdles

Thursday: Ffos Las

Altobelli impressed when winning a bumper at Exeter in February and the Harry Fry-trained four-year-old demonstrated his potential again when making a winning start over hurdles in the 2m maiden.

Despite not being overly fluent at some of his obstacles, Altobelli kept on well under Bryan Carver to justify 5-4 favouritism and remain unbeaten.

“He’s still a work in progress,” said the winning rider. “The form of his bumper run at Exeter was franked by Ginny's Destiny the last day at Warwick. He wasn’t the most natural early on when he did start schooling, so today was a nice little start for him.

“We’ve gone around a nice even gallop, he actually jumped quite nicely early on but he made a bit of a mistake at two out and landed a bit flat footed at the back of the last as well. Hopefully he’d have learned a lot from today."

Carver, who also rode a winner at Taunton on Wednesday, added: “He’s been off for 300 days and galloped all the way to the line and gave me a nice feel. If he keeps improving and learning he’ll be a nice one for the future.”

Complete Unknown: made a winning chasing debut for Paul Nicholls and Harry CobdenCredit: Mark Cranham

Nicholls success

Paul Nicholls ensured he came away with a winner on the final day of racing before the Christmas break as Harry Cobden helped Complete Unknown make a winning start over fences in the 2m5f novice handicap chase.

Mixed day

Nicky Henderson’s 2019 Triumph Hurdle winner Pentland Hills fell in the race won by Complete Unknown, but the Seven Barrows trainer fared better in the 2m4f handicap hurdle as Time Flies By followed up a win at Fontwell last time.

James Bowen did the honours aboard the JP McManus-owned gelding, which also completed an across-the-card double for the owner after Lock’s Corner’s success in the feature race at Ayr.

Results, replays and analysis

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