Owners savour I K Brunel win - in race they sponsor: 'We thought we'd lost him'

Wednesday: Newbury

A lot of soul-searching had gone into I K Brunel, who timed his return to winning ways to perfection in the novice handicap chase, which was sponsored by one of his owners Greg Stone.

His other part-owner Max McNeill, enjoying a fine run with his string, was on hand to detail the journey after seeing Olly Murphy's inmate strike under Adrian Heskin.

He said: "He was beaten in a novice chase at Wetherby last year, but that was behind Shan Blue and Snow Leopardess, that lovely grey horse who has just won the Becher.

"We were disappointed because we thought our lad was half-decent. We went back over hurdles and it was a disaster – we thought we'd lost the horse.

"Olly was really frustrated and we were to blame in many ways as Olly and Adrian, but more importantly the owners, thought going back over hurdles and keeping him as a novice chaser was being clever, but it didn't work."

Some R&R with Paddy Brennan played its part in I K Brunel bouncing back.

"He summered beautifully at Paddy's over the summer," McNeill added.

"Paddy did a great job with him and said, 'Max, I think you'll find a different horse this season from last season'.

"He ran at Carlisle in November and then we said we'd look at Greg's race. He's Mr Prodec and there was a race at Aintree a few weeks ago, but this was the race we wanted to be at. Greg's got his company here, they've a box and are having their Christmas party. It was a no-brainer and we've got him back."

Brennan's own day got even better as he completed a double on the Fergal O'Brien pair Pull Again Green (novice hurdle) and Poetic Music (fillies' bumper).

I Am Maximus and Nico de Boinville win the maiden hurdleCredit: Edward Whitaker

I Am Maximus excites Henderson

Nicky Henderson has some quality youngsters this season and I Am Maximus, who cruised home in the maiden hurdle, belongs in that category.

"That was great and he's joining in the fun – he'll be a lovely horse," said Henderson, who also has Jonbon and Constitution Hill on his hands.

"He's a graded horse – there's no doubt about that."

I Am Maximus, who beat the talented My Drogo in a Cheltenham bumper last season, runs in the colours of Mike Grech, who added: "We like him very much and it's great to be in the winner's enclosure – it's what racing's all about.

"Please God he goes on to make plenty of headlines."

Forever William (blue cap) is too good in the juvenile hurdleCredit: Edward Whitaker

Forever William roars for Barbury team

The Alan King-trained Forever William impressed on his jumping debut in the juvenile hurdle and, "without getting too excited", connections are tempted to dream big.

He runs in the yellow and blue silks of The Barbury Lions, colours made famous by the three-year-old's star staying stablemate Trueshan, who used to be owned by the syndicate.

It is run by David Hill, whose son James is part of the editorial team at the Racing Post.

"It was just a question of how he jumped because he's not the quickest, but stays well," he said.

"His jumping was really good so it's exciting and we were hoping he'd be a better horse over jumps than the Flat and he's just a typical Kingy juvenile hurdler.

"We'll see how far he goes. The syndicate kind of needs a horse to replace Trueshan and the dream would be something like the Fred Winter."

Results, replays and analysis

The Front Runner is our latest email newsletter available exclusively to Members' Club Ultimate subscribers. Chris Cook, a four-time Racing Reporter of the Year award winner, provides his take on the day's biggest stories and tips for the upcoming racing every morning from Monday to Friday