Mandocello builds on 'baptism of fire' to land feature handicap

Saturday: Market Rasen

Mandocello built upon his promising novice form to land the valuable 2m½f feature handicap hurdle under Ciaran Gethings.

The six-year-old, formerly trained on the Flat by Rod Millman, had three subsequent winners in behind him when scoring for Buckinghamshire-based trainer Stuart Edmunds at Uttoxeter in July, but could only manage fourth on his handicap debut at Cartmel last time out.

Edmunds, who also won the £40,000 contest in 2015 with Cloonacool, said: “His jumping has never been the strongest and it probably was a bit of a baptism of fire going to Cartmel in a handicap. It all happened a bit quick for him there but we gave him a bit of daylight today and it worked.”

Edmunds other runner Via Serica was pulled up by Gethings in the 2m½f juvenile hurdle won by Exciting News, who struck for Dan Skelton on her first start over obstacles.

The three-year-old filly was ridden by the trainer’s brother Harry and was the start of an across-the-card double for owner-breeders the Gredley family, with Mile End winning at the Curragh.

Awesome Autumn

Autumn Return made it 2-2 under rules as she added to Ayr’s April bumper win with success under Brian Hughes in the 2m½f mares' novice hurdle. It was a first winner of the season for trainer Ruth Jefferson, with odds-on favourite Mullenbeg only managing third on her hurdling debut.

Mullenbeg was a Listed Cheltenham bumper winner for Milton Harris last term, and the trainer gained some compensation for her disappointing defeat when Earth Cry took the bumper.

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