Magical Thomas dispels the doubts for Mulholland

Magical Thomas belatedly registered a first success over hurdles for Neil Mulholland as he saw off Hermosa Vaquera to land the opening 2m1½f handicap hurdle on his 11th start in the sphere.

He made all under Noel Fehily and, despite the low grade, it proved a good finish to watch as the first two battled for much of the straight, even coming together on the run-in. For that William Clarke, rider of the second, received a caution for allowing his mount to drift left.

The winner's only Flat success had come on the all-weather and this did too, up to a point. This was the first meeting since Fontwell laid a stretch of cambered Fibresand, stretching from the end of the back straight to the beginning of the home straight, a distance of more than a furlong and a half.