'Very exciting' Stage Star slashed for Ballymore after Grade 1 romp

Wednesday: Newbury

Paul Nicholls is a sensible starting place when it comes to solving the puzzle of Newbury's sole top-level jumps race and the training goliath provided the answer once more when Stage Star stole the show in the Challow Novices' Hurdle.

Backed by MansionBet, the Challow was finding its way to Nicholls' yard in Somerset for the fourth time, which equals the tally of victories Jonjo O'Neill has recorded.

In joining Cornish Rebel, Denman and Bravemansgame as Ditcheat alumni on the honours board, Stage Star was trimmed by Betfair and Paddy Power to 8-1 (from 20) for the Ballymore Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in March.

Judged on the way he swept away from West Balboa and Irish raider Gringo D'aubrelle, he would not be an imposter in that, although waiting for the Grand National meeting at Aintree will also be considered.

Members can watch the replay here

"He's a proper horse and that was a very taking performance," said Nicholls, whose 5-4 favourite was ridden by Harry Cobden and is looked after by Chloe Humphries.

"Harry was quite surprised how well he won and said that as well as he stays, he's got so much speed too.

"He'll be a lovely chaser next season and has just needed a bit of time. We haven't been too serious with him until after his last run because we knew today would be a tough task, and he'd have to be at his best."

Nicholls plans to give Stage Star a mini break and added: "He's a very exciting horse. The way he quickened up from the back of the last was really good and the next question is where we go now, although today was always a target and we'll think about what we do.

"I'm not afraid to wait until Aintree for them. You want to go to Cheltenham and win, not finish fifth or sixth and give yourself a hard race. You've got to be competitive and I've learned that even more so in the last few years. If we can win at Cheltenham, we'll be there."

A five-year-old, Stage Star runs in the familiar mauve silks of the Owners Group, whose syndicate members – in and outside of the winner's enclosure – helped create an atmosphere that would not be out of place at the festival.

"That roar just shows how good the Owners Group is for racing and how people can get involved," Nicholls said.

"We've got 17 for them now and some lovely horses. We've had lots of winners and they all enjoy it. To give them a lot of pleasure with a Grade 1 horse is fantastic, brilliant – and it's got to be good for racing."

Nicholls and his chief scout Tom Malone bought the son of Fame And Glory as a three-year-old for €60,000 in 2019 and "he's turned out to be a good buy, but it's not because we're clever, it's because we got lucky".

There must be a shade more to it, as Nicholls' Challow record proves.

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