Nicholls' Enrilo proves too hot for rivals in Winter Novices' Hurdle

Sandown is synonymous with slow-motion finishes at this time of year and the Grade 2 Ballymore Winter Novices’ Hurdle was no exception as Enrilo and House Island slogged it out in what turned out to be the slowest time on the card.

What was more of a surprise was both the Paul Nicholls-trained winner’s shortening price for a Cheltenham Festival win and that the champion trainer’s runner started at 10-1 and his closest rival was 20-1, considering they had dominated a decent bumper at Kempton in February.

Watch Enrilo's Winter Hurdle success

“He would have been favourite without his Ludlow run,” said Nicholls about the five-year-old who was defeated at odds-on that day. “I was mortified after Ludlow. I couldn’t believe what I saw that day as I thought he was a really good horse.

“Something upset him that day. He might have got his mouth pinched and was in pain, but something wasn’t right and Bryony [Frost] couldn’t keep him on the course.

“He’s done nothing wrong today and has got lots of potential. We’ll be in no hurry with him as he will be a super chaser in a year’s time, but he’s capable of winning something good in the spring, although we wouldn’t ruin him at Cheltenham.”

Paul Nicholls: trainer of Grade 2 winner EnriloCredit: Edward Whitaker

That tempers any enthusiasm for the 33-1 from Betfair about his Ballymore Novices' Hurdle chances at the festival or the 20-1 about the Albert Bartlett from BoyleSports.

Winning rider Harry Cobden was also enamoured by Enrilo’s effort in being the only one able to reel in House Island, who takes equal honours in just failing to concede 3lb to his rival after setting a searching gallop with Happygolucky.

“He's still very very green and doesn’t travel as well as he should, but he has so much raw ability and is a lovely horse.”

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