Sandown: 'Mr Vango was the last horse Mark won with so it's really lovely to see him win again' - poignant success for Sara Bradstock

The arrival of Storm Darragh could not have come at a better time for Sara Bradstock after Mr Vango powered home to a poignant success in the Betfair Exchange London National. 

The eight-year-old was lovingly described as slow by connections, but they never doubted his ability to stay in perfect conditions as he held off Collectors Item to win under Nico de Boinville. 

"He's a star for us," said Bradstock. "He can't go very fast but he never knows when to stop. He's a big gentle giant really and it's a case of the softer the better for him. 

"We were able to buy him because everyone thought he was slow, which he is, but who cares after a race like that."

Success in the £50,000 contest was particularly special for Bradstock following the death of her husband Mark, who trained Mr Vango to score at Exeter in February before passing away the following month.  

"Mr Vango was the last horse Mark won with so it's really lovely to see him win again," she said. "Mark was so desperate that we keep going and we had a horse with us able to keep us going. 

"If all goes well Mr Vango will go for the Welsh National now. I wouldn't run him on good going, but if he gets his ground it would be perfect." 

• 'We've won a Gold Cup and we still can't get owners' - Sara Bradstock opens up about yard struggles

Honky Tonk Highway on song 

Sandown's hurdles course is no place for a faint heart when the rain arrives, but just 16 days after making her hurdles debut at Warwick, Honky Tonk Highway made light work of attritional conditions to win the Listed Betfair-backed Claremont Novices' Hurdle.  

While her future lies over further, Honky Tonk Highway was able to put her stamina to good use over the minimum trip on ground the riders agreed was heavy, and came home a length clear of doughty runner-up Hartington. 

Honky Tonk Highway takes Listed honours under Harry SkeltonCredit: Alan Crowhurst

"It's proper National Hunt weather," said winning trainer Dan Skelton. "I entered her on Monday because I saw the race cutting up. Running her 16 days after Warwick isn't perfectly ideal, but she's a tough customer and you're never really getting to the bottom of her.

"She's good around here and handles that ground so she might come back for the [Grade 2] Jane Seymour in February, but we'll see what the handicapper does as well. She'll stay all day and is a handy little mare to have."

Following an across-the-card treble on Friday, Skelton was completing three more wins at Sandown, with L'Eau Du Sud and Knickerbockerglory also scoring at short odds.  

Henri brings up half-century

A day after Skelton reached his century for the season, Paul Nicholls gave his protege a friendly reminder that he had the title leader "in his sights" as Henri The Second handed the 14-time champion his 50th winner of the campaign in the Pertemps qualifier. 

Nicholls played down his title hopes earlier in the season, but with his stable in top form and big-race successes in the Paddy Power and Coral Gold Cups safely in the locker, his confidence seems to be rising. 

Freddie Gingell rides Henri The Second clear over the last to win the Pertemps Network Handicap HurdleCredit: Alan Crowhurst

"Dan had his 100th winner yesterday and that was our 50th so we've got him in our sights," joked Nicholls. 

"Henri The Second ploughed through the ground when most of the others didn't and a couple of runs over hurdles has done his confidence the world of good.  

"He overjumped at the first on his chase debut last year, did the splits and fractured his pelvis so we left him off. 

"Today was good and I think we'll stick over hurdles for the time being. On really testing ground he might be interesting in something like a Cleeve Hurdle."  

Read more:

'I'd have no problem running him in the Game Spirit' - Dan Skelton plots Arkle path after L'Eau Du Sud gets job done in Henry VIII

Jonbon throws down Champion Chase gauntlet with dominant Tingle Creek win  

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