'Very special' Wholestone defies 455-day layoff to land Grade 2 Rendlesham

Saturday: Haydock

Nigel Twiston-Davies executed a remarkable training feat to get Wholestone firing on all cylinders for a comeback win in the William Hill Rendlesham Hurdle.

Absent since suffering an injury when falling on Betfair Chase day here in November 2020, the 11-year-old produced a heroic effort in gruelling conditions on his first start in 455 days.

Twiston-Davies, who saw Bristol De Mai come up just short in the Grand National Trial on the card, has had many memorable moments at Haydock and this 16-1 upset was another one.

"He's a very special horse who has done an awful lot in his time," said the trainer. "I wasn't really expecting it but he's a class horse. He hurt his foot really badly when falling here last time, but it's all right now."

Owned by Simon Munir and Isaac Souede, Wholestone was a regular in the top staying hurdle races and won three Grade 2s at Cheltenham, but a trip to next month's festival is unlikely.

Nigel Twiston-Davies: 'the world's his oyster now'Credit: Edward Whitaker

"He's not in the Stayers' Hurdle, I don't think he'll be supplemented and there's Aintree [Liverpool Hurdle]. The world's his oyster now," said Twiston-Davies.

Best of the British

Porticello strengthened his position as Britain's leading JCB Triumph Hurdle contender with a comfortable victory in the Victor Ludorum Juvenile Hurdle.

Betfair Sportsbook and Paddy Power cut the Gary Moore-trained winner to a best-priced 12-1 (from 14) for Cheltenham after he landed odds of 30-100 with the minimum of fuss under Josh Moore.

The jockey was keen to be positive on Porticello, who won the Grade 1 Finale Juvenile Hurdle at Chepstow on his previous start, and his mount bounded clear to win by 17 lengths.

Moore, stepping in with brother Jamie riding Goshen at Wincanton, said: "He's a beautiful horse and a pleasure to ride. I just wanted to make sure it was even for him, keep it simple, and use his jumping, and he's done it well.

"He's handled that ground as well as a horse will handle it – it's not the nicest but he's got away with it."

Asked whether all roads led to the Triumph, Moore said: "Possibly. It depends how he comes out of it and what the ground is at Cheltenham. If he was to run at Cheltenham, he would want plenty of ease in the ground."

Hillcrest cut for Albert Bartlett

Hillcrest was halved in price to 6-1 by Paddy Power for the Albert Bartlett after powering his way to a dominant success in the Grade 2 Prestige Novices' Hurdle.

Hillcrest: 'He certainly looks pretty smart, there's no getting away from it'Credit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Trainer Henry Daly described Hillcrest as the best novice he had trained and the giant seven-year-old appeared to book his place at Cheltenham.

"He certainly looks pretty smart, there's no getting away from it, and watching that you'd think the Albert Bartlett would be the target, or perhaps the Sefton Novices' Hurdle at Aintree," said Daly.

"I don't think he's had a particularly hard race considering the conditions."

Aintree on the agenda

Liverpool rather than Cheltenham is on the agenda for last year's Aintree Foxhunters' winner Cousin Pascal after he provided trainer Joe O'Shea with his fourth win in the Walrus Hunters' Chase.

"We won't go to Cheltenham and will head straight to Aintree. He's a proper Aintree horse, so fingers crossed," said O'Shea.

Results, replays and analysis

Read more from Saturday's action:

Ascot Chase: This is for him' - Walsh dedicates battling Fakir D'Oudairies win to his uncle

Analysis centre: 'Class won the day' but should Fakir D'Oudairies skip Allaho Ryanair clash?'

Grand National Trial: The Galloping Bear upsets Bristol De Mai to give Ben Clarke biggest career win

Wincanton Saturday: 'Yes, he's quirky, but that was incredible' - Goshen delivers in Kingwell epic

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