Smiles all round as gallant grey Ramses De Teillee bounces back to form

Wednesday: Warwick

David Pipe summed up what many racegoers were thinking following the success of Ramses De Teillee in the 3m veterans' handicap chase.

The ten-year-old seemed destined for retirement after failing to make an impression in four runs last season but the spring was back in his step as he galloped to a front-running win over De Rasher Counter.

"If that doesn't make a true jumps fan smile then nothing will," said Pipe. "Everyone seems to like these races and it's rare we all agree on something these days.

"He'd dropped a few pounds and had a wind op during the summer, and we took him out of Cheltenham at the weekend because the ground wasn't soft enough but coming here has paid off nicely."

Ramses De Teillee, who is a yard favourite at Pond House, put in some exuberant jumps under his regular partner Tom Scudamore.

"We've had him since he was a four-year-old and every day he comes out, does his work and is full of enthusiasm, it's a pleasure to see him up the gallops," added Pipe.

"When he's on song he's a decent horse. He's qualified for the final now which was the idea so I wouldn't be surprised to see him turn up there. We'll look at any of those long-distance three-mile chases."

Snow Leopardess was pulled up after the first fence after she slipped jumping it, but jockey Aidan Coleman reported the mare to be fine with the Becher still firmly on the agenda.

He said: “She nearly fell at the first because she slipped. The ground is very greasy on the outside. If you look at the fence there’s a massive skid mark so she did well to stand up.”

Destiny delivers

Ginny’s Destiny bounced back from a disappointing hurdles debut at Aintree last month to beat a decent field including Grade 2 bumper winner Lookaway in the 2m5f novice hurdle.

The Tom Lacey-trained six-year-old could only manage fourth when sent off at 5-2 on his seasonal reappearance, but swept to the front under Stan Sheppard to score easily by eight and a half lengths.

Explaining the improvement of the 18-1 winner, Sheppard said: "That run might have just taken the edge off him. It was his first off a long break last time and he was very keen in the early stages. Today he was much more settled and I was very impressed with him."

Ginny's Desting: a horse to watch for trainer Tom LaceyCredit: Alan Crowhurst

The trainer said the Grade 2 Leamington Novices' Hurdle, which he won last year with Adrimel, on Warwick's Classic Chase day in January could be a potential target for the promising son of Yeats.

"I’m over the moon," said Lacey. "Aintree was a disaster from the get-go and I don’t think he acted around the track. He’s proved he’s a smart individual and there’s plenty to look forward to with him.

"He came here on his preferred ground and did it really well, there were some really nice horses in behind him. Hopefully we’ve got a really nice horse to go to war with."

Lookaway made the running under Jack Quinlan but the odds-on favourite had no response to Ginny’s Destiny and faded in the home straight to finish 18 lengths behind the winner in third.

"He jumped well. He was just a little bit fresh on his first run back,” said Quinlan. "He took me on a bit early doors and then perhaps didn’t quite see it out after doing a bit too much early. I think he’ll improve an absolute bundle for that."

Results, replays and analysis

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