'There's a lot to look forward to' - Jet Powered takes off for Nicky Henderson
Friday: Newbury
It would be stretching things to say Nicky Henderson has another aeroplane on his hands, but Jet Powered had plenty of fuel left in the tank after his romp in the maiden hurdle.
Buveur D'Air and Jonbon were Henderson stars to use the race as a launchpad to bigger and better things, and the future is undoubtedly bright for Jet Powered, who is now as short as 4-1 for the Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle.
The Lambourn trainer watched on with the five-year-old's owners Joe and Marie Donnelly and said: "There are a few of these youngsters to come, but I'm not going to say I have ten better than him at home. This time last year we hardly knew Constitution Hill existed so we've a long way to go.
"You have to be very pleased and it's a nice race to start in. I think there's a lot to look forward to – the future is in front of him."
Money well spent
Stay Away Fay was bought for money you certainly would not find down the back of the sofa, but he repaid a small bit of his price tag by landing the novice hurdle.
He was Paul Nicholls' third straight winner in the race after Bravemansgame and Stage Star.
Stay Away Fay, who cost £305,000, runs in the colours of Chris Giles, and the champion trainer said: "Chris and I were having lunch to celebrate Greaneteen winning the Tingle Creek around this time last year and [bloodstock agent] Tom Malone called and said he was a super horse and just the type we should be buying.
"We had a couple more glasses of wine and Chris bought him, so the rest is history. When they cost that amount of money, you give them time and you need to see them perform like that."
Star dimmed
The card's Grade 2 Coral-sponsored novice chase was expected to go to 2-7 shot Stage Star for Paul Nicholls, but 22-1 outsider Sebastopol caused a shock.
Nicholls won the race, which is better known as the Berkshire Novices' Chase, with the mighty Denman, who subsequently became a Gold Cup winner, but Stage Star did not read the script.
"I wasn't expecting to beat Stage Star after his run at Warwick, but Sebastopol is a good horse on his day," said his trainer Tom Lacey.
"He's a novice until the end of November so why not have a crack at a nice prize."
Tasty victory
Paint The Dream, who runs in the colours of David Brace and was ridden by his grandson Connor, was far too good for his rivals in the 2m4f handicap chase.
Bob Preston is involved in the winner, and said: "I had a butcher shop in the Cotswolds and I've known David for over 17 years now.
"I met him over the counter and he rang me up one day asking to name a horse Bob The Butcher. I thought it was a great name, so I had a leg in that and have one in Paint The Dream, and he's a lovely, lovely horse."
Sweet success
Frere D'Armes was behind Aucunrisque over hurdles at Kempton last term, but he got his revenge in the novice handicap chase, much to the delight of his trainer Dan Skelton.
Skelton, whose younger brother Harry did the steering on Frere D'Armes, trains the five-year-old for the Belbroughton Racing Club, and said: "We've danced a few dances with the runner-up and he beat us at Kempton last season so we've got a bit of revenge, but he's a really tough horse. I think that's nice form for a novice handicap chase."
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