'Long may it continue' - in-form Harry Fry strikes again with a double

Trainer Harry Fry expressed his excitement about the winter ahead after saddling a double with horses making their seasonal debuts.

Lady Adare won a bumper for Micky Hammond before changing hands, and impressed on her first start over obstacles when taking the 2m mares' maiden hurdle under Lorcan Murtagh.

Fry said: "She'd been going nicely at home and most importantly the schooling was going well. Starting out in these maiden novices you want to see them jump well and she did that. Winning is the icing on the cake really."

Murtagh was again doing the steering on Imperial Esprit – winner of the 2m4f handicap chase – in the Gold Cup-winning silks of the Imperial Racing partnership.

"It hasn't been plain sailing for him," said Fry about the seven-year-old, who was scoring on his chasing debut. "He's had his injury problems but he's always been a chaser in the making. I'm delighted for his owners who have been very patient.

"It's great that the horses are running well as we come into the core jumps season now we've had some rain. It's a testament to everyone's hard work at home and long may it continue."

Minella makes perfect start

Minella Drama was last seen chasing home My Drogo in the Grade 1 Mersey Novices' Hurdle and the Donald McCain-trained six-year-old made no mistake, scoring by eight and a half lengths under Brian Hughes in the feature 2m novice handicap chase.

The Listed hurdle winner, who was making his chasing debut, survived a brief scare at the second-last fence when nodding briefly on landing to deny the Kerry Lee-trained Magic Dancer.

Murphy march continues

Olly Murphy's superb week continued as he teamed up with Aidan Coleman for a double.

Jetaway Joey showed no signs of rustiness as he took the opening 2m4f novice hurdle after nearly 200 days off the track, before Duke Of Rockingham got off the mark at the second time of asking in the bumper. The Warwickshire-based Murphy has now saddled six winners from his last ten runners.

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