The Big Breakaway beaten as dazzling hurdler Star Gate is cut for Ballymore

The Big Breakaway suffered a shock defeat on his second start over fences as the Evan Williams-trained Bold Plan upset the long odds-on favourite at Exeter.

An eyecatching winner at Cheltenham on his chase debut last month, The Big Breakaway, trained by Colin Tizzard, showed signs of inexperience over his fences and was passed by 7-2 second favourite Bold Plan after the last.

Paddy Power responded by easing The Big Breakaway to 14-1 (from 8-1) for the race formerly known as the RSA Chase, while Bold Plan was a first-show 33-1 for the Marsh Novices' Chase with the same firm.

Evan Williams: enjoyed an across-the-card double with Bold Plan and Star GateCredit: Harry Trump

With all attention on The Big Breakaway, Bold Plan was allowed to quietly go about his business under Sean Bowen and there was only one winner after he jumped alongside Robbie Power at the last.

Bold Plan initiated a memorable half an hour for Williams as he enjoyed an across-the-card double with Star Gate sealing an authoritative victory in the Ballymore Winter Novices' Hurdle at Sandown.

"Over that trip we were confident and I fancied us to win," Williams said. "The second isn’t really a two-and-a-half-miler. It's nice to get his head in front again because he’s a bonny horse on his day."

Connections of The Big Breakaway cited the small four-runner field and the drop in trip from his three-mile success at Cheltenham last month as reasons for his below-par performance, but confirmed he remains on track for bigger targets over Christmas.

Assistant trainer Joe Tizzard said: "He has had to make his own running and he didn't really concentrate to be honest and he got caught at the last. He was looking about the whole way and he wasn't in a position to stretch away. A stronger run race where he can have someone to tow him along in front should help.

"The whole idea after Cheltenham was to drop him back in trip to sharpen him up but that's backfired a bit. We’re still looking to either go to the Kauto Star or the Dipper next."

Star Gate 25-1 for Ballymore after dazzling in Sandown Grade 2

The three-runner contest was a tactical affair but the Rucker family-owned four-year-old stayed on strongly after the last to defeat Valleres by eight and a half lengths, with Paddy Power and Betfair Sportsbook shortening him to 25-1 (from 40) for the Ballymore Novices' Hurdle.

Jockey Nico de Boinville said: "Evan has had a great across-the-card double so big thanks to him and the Ruckers for allowing me to ride him.

"It was a tactical race but Adam [Wedge] told me he had a good turn of foot and he pinged the last. He's a lovely horse and the world is his oyster."

'The world is his oyster': Nico de Boinville was impressed with Grade 2 winner Star GateCredit: Alan Crowhurst

'It's almost unreal': pair of teenagers triumph in heartwarming Sandown opener

The general public were let into Sandown for the first time since March meaning they were present as 18-year-old amateur jockey Albi Tufnell registered his first winner under rules.

Tufnell, who is on a gap year and applying to universities to study Spanish and Arabic, partnered the ever-willing Call Me Vic to a thrilling success. His able partner, just five years his junior, travelled sweetly through the contest and was delivered to challenge at the last.

A distant relation of Meriel Tufnell, the first female jockey in the UK to win a race under Jockey Club rules, Albi knows he has "quite the legacy to live up to" but said: "It's almost unreal. I had a little peek to my right after the last and was hoping my lad's head was in front, but when I crossed the line and was we were the only horse there it was amazing."

The pair of teenagers, one owned and the other bred by Jane Tufnell, pulled six lengths clear on the famous climb to the line and a delighted Albi said: "He's some horse, he goes hunting, you could do anything on him and I love him.

'I love him': Albi Tufnell and Call Me Vic fly the lastCredit: Mark Cranham

"I always knew they'd go that quick, I wasn't sure he'd be able to stay with them or have that much left in the tank if he could, but when you're riding a horse like that on a track like this - I don't want to say it's easy but he made me look good.

"He's a credit to Fergal [O'Brien, trainer] and Sally [Randell, O'Brien's partner and assistant] who have kept him so sweet and happy. He's about to turn 14 but there's no headgear on him - he loves the game."

Tufnell looked very good and is clearly a rider for the big tracks. "I've only had three rides under rules and the other two were at Cheltenham," quipped the newest member of those who can say they have ridden a winner at a Grade 1 track.

Tufnell, who has ridden seven winners in points, was asked if a successful winter could see his university plans put on hold to pursue his riding ambitions and said: "Don't say that too loudly around my mother!"

He added: "I'm loving what I'm doing and we'll have to see what happens when that dreaded time comes when I have to choose, but at the moment I'm loving doing both."

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