3 minute read

Nicholls runner is now unbeaten in four starts under rules.

Mr Glass  secured his fourth victory in succession with a determined front-running performance in the Weatherbys nhstallions.co.uk 'The French Furze' Novices' Hurdle at Newcastle.

A dual bumper winner last season and impressive on his hurdling debut at Chepstow last month, the Paul Nicholls-trained gelding was the 5-6 favourite for his latest assignment at Gosforth Park.

Sent straight to the lead by Sean Bowen, the archetypal chaser in the making was not always foot-perfect and he briefly looked in danger when challenged early in the home straight.

The well-backed Marble Sands and point-to-point winner Loughderg Rocco both loomed up looking serious threats – but to his credit, Mr Glass dug deep in the driving snow to see off the latter by a length.

Speaking from Newbury, Nicholls' assistant Harry Derham said: "Mr Glass is a smashing horse – he's next season's chaser.

"I don't think he will have a busy year. He is learning loads and as you can see, he is very green.

"I suspect he will run somewhere after Christmas in a nice, staying novice hurdle."

Too Friendly made it two from two over obstacles with a clear-cut success in the Paul Ferguson's Jumpers To Follow Introductory Juvenile Hurdle.

A useful performer on the Flat for George Scott, the gelded son of Camelot made a successful switch to the jumping sphere on his first start for Dan Skelton at Stratford last month.

Well fancied to follow up as the 5-4 favourite, Too Friendly moved smoothly into contention under Bridget Andrews before pulling almost five lengths clear of market rival Twilight Twist on the run-in.

"He was really good," Skelton said from Newbury.

"The runner-up made a mistake at the last which gifted it to us, but I think we may have had it covered at the time.

"It is good form and I think he's a progressive horse."

Scene Not Herd justified 15-8 favouritism in the Eileen Peacock Memorial Handicap Chase for trainer Charlie Longsdon and jockey Jonathan Burke.

Impressive on his return from 11 months off the track at Hereford a few weeks ago, the six-year-old made light of his welter burden of 11st 11lb – passing the post with six and a half lengths in hand over Luckofthedraw.

Longsdon said: "He was really electric at Hereford and I was slightly worried that 35 millimetres of rain (at Newcastle) might be too much for him.

"I had my reservations, but he's a horse going the right way.

"We can step him up slightly now into better company."

The Evan Williams-trained Winds Of Fire came good under a cool ride from Adam Wedge in the Betfair Daily Rewards Novices' Limited Handicap Chase.

Second on each of his final three starts of last season, the six-year-old came to grief at the first obstacle in the race won by Scene Not Herd at Hereford.

The 10-1 shot made no mistake on this occasion, however, travelling strongly before finding enough for pressure to repel Cooper's Cross by a length and three-quarters.

Supporters of title-chasing Brian Hughes were in clover after the victory of Since Day One in the Living North EBF 'National Hunt' Maiden Hurdle.

Hughes was due to be in action at Bangor, but with that fixture abandoned, he instead made the journey to Newcastle for just one mount.

It proved worthwhile, however, with Donald McCain's Since Day One striking gold at odds of 14-1.