War Lord keeps Powell and Tizzard bandwagon rolling with valuable win

Monday: Carlisle

Brendan Powell and Colin Tizzard continued their excellent start to the core season when War Lord held off the late charge of Minella Drama in the £50,000 Durdar Graduation Chase.

The pair won the Colin Parker here with Fiddlerontheroof and the Haldon Gold Cup at Exeter with Eldorado Allen, and added another valuable race to their haul with the Wychwood Partnership-owned winner.

War Lord, who made the perfect start over fences at Newton Abbot last month, put in an assured round of jumping and had just enough in reserve to deny the fast-finishing runner-up.

"He jumped well for a second run over fences and we quite like him," said Powell. "He probably waited for a bit of company late on and was bound to get a little tired on that ground, but he stuck his head down when he needed to."

Powell was pleased to make the most of his increased opportunities with the Tizzard team this season.

"It's quite nice having winners – and good ones at that," he added. "I started out with the Tizzards and then didn't ride for them for a while, but it's great to ride for them again and, thankfully, I've been able to repay them."

Brian Hughes, rider of even-money favourite Minella Drama, said: "I didn't get a clear run round – it was just a nightmare – and he's done well to do what he's done."

Nurse soothes Donlon pain

The pain of Shan Blue's fall in the Charlie Hall will take a long time to get over, but at least owner Colm Donlon has been comforted by a flood of winners.

Nurse Susan gave Donlon his fourth success from five runners since the Wetherby heartache with an impressive display on debut in the 2m1f maiden hurdle.

The four-year-old filly has a decent jumping pedigree and winning jockey Harry Skelton is excited about her future.

"She's something a bit special, hopefully," he said. "We thought a lot of her at home, but you just never know going to the track for the first time. She's a proper National Hunt mare with all the size and whatever she does this year will be a bonus."

Injured Reed misses out

Jockey Harry Reed suffered a fall at Wincanton on Saturday and missed out on a winner when Time Leader took the the 2m4f novice handicap hurdle under Alain Cawley.

The 28-1 winner is trained by Reed's father Tim, who said: "Harry got a concussion, so it's a minimum of seven days. He's fine but he was a bit depressed when he rang me up after the race as he's put a lot into this horse.

"Credit to Alain though. He's given him a superb ride as we wanted to get him switched off as he's been running with the choke out."

Worth the trip

Nicky Henderson runners at Carlisle are rare and the raid paid off as Emir Sacree won the 2m4f novice handicap chase.

Henderson recorded just his second winner from three runners at the track in the last 20 years courtesy of the 9-2 shot, who was running from 5lb out of the weights.

Henderson had another runner on the card in Father John, who was third behind Time Leader.

Results, replays and analysis

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