'I didn't expect her to do it that easily' - Jane Du Berlais delights Potter

Monday: Lingfield

Bargain buy Jane Du Berlais easily recouped her purchase price when fending off the challenge of warm favourite Bonttay to land the 2m mares’ novice hurdle under Daryl Jacob.

The four-year-old, who was bought for just £1,000 by her trainer Ryan Potter as a foal, was green and put in some novicey jumps, but showed sharp acceleration to skip away after an awkward leap at the last.

Potter said: “I’ve always loved her. We hold her in very high regard at home. On her run at Cheltenham the ground was a bit quick for her but she only finished a few lengths behind Milton Harris’s horse who won a Listed bumper.

“Then we went up to Uttoxeter and I told everyone she’d win but she just slipped up on the bend.

“We were expecting her to run really well today but that was a hot mares’ novice. I didn’t expect her to do it that easily.”

He added: “We’ll enjoy today. I do think she’ll be a mare who ends up getting black type, so we certainly won’t rush it.”

Drought ended

Trainer Neil King had gone 185 days without a winner before The Knot Is Tied came good at 20-1 in the 2m novice handicap chase.

Ridden by Jack Quinlan, the topweight was all out to beat favourite Magnificent Ben on the run-in, prevailing by a neck.

Happy surprise

There was another surprise when Sean Bowen got the better of his brother James, who was riding joint-favourite Light Em Up Nigel, on 40-1 chance Happy Company in the 2m novice handicap hurdle.

The eight-year-old has spent most of his career in Ireland, amassing 56 runs, mainly on the Flat, before joining trainer John O'Shea in September.

Results, replays and analysis

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