'I've always had faith he would win' - 29th time lucky for Pottlerath

Thursday: Warwick

Racehorse training is often a test of patience but Matt Sheppard never lost faith in 28-race maiden Pottlerath and his belief was justified in the 3m2f novice handicap hurdle.

The seven-year-old, owned by Lost In The Summer Wine, had been placed ten times, including on five of his ten starts since joining the Herefordshire trainer last year.

That winless run is now over with Charlie Deutsch steering Pottlerath to a much-deserved success.

Sheppard, who has had ten winners from seven horses in training this term, said: “Pottlerath has been given a bad press because he's been placed so many times but I don't think he's ungenuine, just a little bit tricky.

“I've always had faith he would win – he's been so consistent and just bumped into better handicapped horses. The better ground made a big difference to him. He's very straightforward to train – he's not very big, but he's epic and very quick over his hurdles.”

Century up

Sam Twiston-Davies celebrated his seventh century in a season when striking on Rikoboy in the feature 2m handicap chase and credited agent Gordy Clarkson for the big part he has played.

Clarkson took over from Chris Broad as Twiston-Davies’s agent this season and the rider has reached his triple-figure target in good time. The David Smith-owned Rikoboy won for the second time for Richard Newland, who doubled up at Wetherby with Rose Sea Has.

Twiston-Davies said: “Gordy deserves a lot of credit as he puts in a lot of hard work. This was the target at the start of the season and it’s great to pull it off with a few weeks to go.

“I’m so lucky to get the support from owners, Dad [Nigel Twiston-Davies], Richard and Neil [Mulholland] and hopefully I can keep kicking on.”

Double bubble

Jonjo O’Neill Jr brought up the half century for the season with a double for his father on 2m handicap hurdle winner Head Law and Are U Wise To That, on top in the bumper.

The latter’s dam is a half-sister to Denman and he made a good impression on his debut having been bought for £125,000 in January.

The winning trainer, Jonjo snr, said: “He’s a big baby and quite nervy so we were delighted with that. He went through the race nicely and did everything right.”

Beck buzzing

An absolutely huge buzz was how owner Paul Beck described witnessing Jeffery’s Cross win for the first time in division two of the 2m5f maiden hurdle.

Beck bought the sizeable six-year-old for £45,000 at the end of last year and the Dan Skelton-trained novice has improved with each run, leading to this victory under Bridget Andrews.

The winning owner said: “I’d been looking for the right horse for some time and I bought him in December, so to see him now win is an absolutely huge buzz. He’s a livewire but he has lots of ability.”

Jeffery’s Cross initiated a double for Skelton, which was completed by the Tristan Durrell-ridden Not That Fuisse in the hunter chase.

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