One-time Derby hope Too Friendly makes winning debut over hurdles for Skeltons

The future looked decidedly different for Too Friendly back in April when he lined up in an Epsom Derby trial for George Scott, but his career now has a bright new beginning as he made a successful jumps debut for new trainer Dan Skelton in the 2m½f juvenile hurdle.

In the familiar yellow colours of the Gredley family – who also have top-class chaser Allmankind with Skelton – the son of Camelot prevailed in a prolonged battle with Oceanline to win by a length and a quarter under the trainer's brother and champion jockey Harry.

Skelton said: "I’m really happy with him. He’s done plenty jumping at home, but we haven’t done loads with him galloping-wise because he turned up fit. He handled the slow ground well, but I’m not sure where he’ll go next.

"We’ve got four or five at the moment for the Gredleys, they send us high quality horses. They’re very particular about what ones they do send us, it’s only the ones that are definitely going to stay. I go back a long way with Tim and it’s nice to have another winner for him."

New beginnings

Fergal O’Brien scored his first winner since merging with fellow trainer Graeme McPherson when Samba Dancer won the 2m2½f novice handicap hurdle.

It was a second win in three starts for the six-year-old since he joined the yard from Irish handler Eoin Doyle in the summer.

Results, replays and analysis

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