'The class is still there' - 2016 Albert Bartlett second breaks 1295-day drought

The 2016 Albert Bartlett runner-up Fagan rolled back the years with a dominant victory in the 2m7½f handicap chase, his first success in three and a half years.

The 11-year-old has won only once since his mighty effort behind Unowhatimeanharry at the Cheltenham Festival when first of only two finishers in a Perth novice chase in July 2017.

After seven defeats and now having joined Alex Hales, he looked as good as ever when sluicing through the mud under Harry Bannister to storm home for an eight length success under top weight.

Bannister said: "I guess the class is still there. The drop back [in grade] probably suited him and I know he's got a lot of weight but it's all relative. He's done that nice and easy which will give him a bit of confidence.

"I don't think he's limited to three [miles], he's got a good set of gears and it helps him travel through the race. It's up to Alex and the owners to decide where to go but it's nice for the old boy to get his head in front again."

Leading prospect

Gallyhill showed exactly why he fetched a whopping £450,000 when bought by Mike Grech as he battled on gamely to make a winning debut under rules in the 2m novices' hurdle.

Nicky Henderson won the novice hurdle on the card last season courtesy of an emphatic performance by Shishkin, but on this occasion the winner had to knuckle down to see off Robin's Dream in a tight finish.

Gallyhill: £450,000 purchase made winning debut under rules for Nicky HendersonCredit: Edward Whitaker

The six-year-old looks a completely different type to last season's Supreme Novices' Hurdle winner, and the champion trainer believes Gallyhill will emerge as a fine staying chaser in the future.

He said: "Nico [de Boinville, jockey] said he was quite rusty and green then took a big blow but he did well to get back to be fair.

"He's a staying chaser and his next run will be over two and a half but he's a big baby. The EBF Final at Sandown could suit. He's a lovely horse."

Fine Casting, winner of the 2m½f bumper, looks another smart type and trainer Ben Pauling is aiming him at the Grade 2 bumper on Grand National day.

"I'm very pleased with that," said the Cheltenham-based trainer. "I think he's very good and he'd be a horse for the Aintree bumper. He's probably a two-and-a-half miler who wants a proper gallop but the better bumpers are run at better paces."

Drought ends

Stuart Edmunds ended a 32-day wait for a winner as Maskada took the feature 2m mares' handicap hurdle under Ciaran Gethings.

The five-year-old made all and held off the challenge of Miss Heritage by four and a half lengths.

"My horses weren't quite right over Christmas so we've just been waiting and it seems like it's paying dividends," he said.

"They went a good, fair gallop and she'd won a very good juvenile hurdle at Warwick in bad ground. I'll imagine we'll stick to mares' handicaps but she's big and strong mare so we'll be over fences soon."

Philip Hobbs and Richard Johnson recorded a double on the day with Dostal Phil and Little River Bay both getting on the scoresheet.

Results, replays and analysis

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