'I think a lot of this horse' - Graded task next for Archie Watson's Grove Road

Wednesday: Hereford

He is well known for his exploits on the Flat but fewer trainers are operating at a better strike-rate over jumps than Archie Watson, who took his record to eight winners from 16 runners for the season when Grove Road won the 3m1½f novice hurdle.

The unbeaten six-year-old showed his class to get the better of the towering Mr Vango in a close finish, but his handler was quick to deflect the attention when asked about his remarkable success in the jumping sphere.

"I can't take much credit because my wife Brodie does all of the training, she's obviously very good at what she does," he said.

"We won't be angling for a dual-licence anytime soon though, she likes to go along in the background and let me take care of the media side!"

Watson trained Glen Shiel to win a Group 1 on the Flat for Grove Road's owners Hambleton Racing and thinks the chestnut is capable of stepping up in grade.

"He was due to run at Cheltenham but it was called off, so now we'll be looking at the River Don at Doncaster," he said.

"Last year Stag Horn won his maiden hurdle and then the Leamington and I think a lot of this horse, so fingers crossed he can take another step up."

Skelton strength

Harry Skelton was winning for just a third different trainer this season when guiding the Peter Bowen-trained Equus Dancer to success in the 2m5f handicap chase.

All but one of Skelton's winning rides this term had come for his brother Dan prior to the 16-1 success for Equus Dancer, and the siblings were on target again with Heezer Geezer in the 2m3½f maiden hurdle.

Results, replays and analysis

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