CHAMPAGNESUPEROVER, once a Grade One contender earlier in his career, came back to winning ways with a victory in the three-mile one-furlong Veterans’ Handicap Chase at Hereford Racecourse on Sunday.
As a younger horse the Olly Murphy trained Champagnesuperover had run at the 2021 Cheltenham and Aintree Festivals, but having sustained an injury during the middle of his career he had not recaptured those heights.
However, he still retains ability which jockey Sean Bowen was able to show in the Veterans Chase, a series of races which encourages older horses to remain in training.
In the testing ground conditions the horse stretched clear on the long run-in to score by two and three-quarter lengths
Murphy said: "I thought he'd win the last day and he unseated.
“He's not the force of old, but he'd come back down to a mark where he could be competitive and he's still genuine and still has an appetite for racing, when plenty of older horses don't.
Sellack trainer Ryan Potter was celebrating on Saturday as he landed the prestigious Eider Chase up at Newcastle Racecourse with Knocanore for his small stable.
Despite not tackling further than three miles previously, Potter was confident that his horse would relish the marathon four-mile one-and-a-half furlong trip.
He was proved right as the 16/1 shot turned the race into a procession as he came home 16 lengths clear under claiming jockey Freddie Mitchell, to win the £80,000 prize.
Another trainer celebrating at the weekend was Byton trainer Kerry Lee as her stable star Nemean Lion won the Grade two National Spirt hurdle at Fontwell in determined fashion under jockey Richard Patrick by a neck.
Nemean Lion has had a cosmopolitan career, beginning his racing in France for trainer Andre Fabre.
Following his reappearance win at Hereford Racecourse this winter Lee has placed Nemean Lion to good effect with two other wins but the Grade two races.
This time a win looked unlikely at the final hurdle at Fontwell as front-runner Steel Ally looked most likely to prevent him from winning his third Grade win, but Patrick skilfully challenged on his rivals inside and battled on to score by a neck.
Lee said: "What a tough little cookie, he loves racing and loves a fight. I thought it was one of the most tactically astute rides I've ever seen a horse given and it's testament to Richard knowing the horse so well having ridden him for most his career. He knew the opposition well and rode the race accordingly."
Nemean Lion finished sixth in the Champion Hurdle last season holds an entry in the Stayers' Hurdle this time, but his trainer revealed that it is not on the agenda this time observing:
She added: "He's a super horse who goes so well on this ground. I think this gives me three possibilities.
We might look at Auteuil, Fairyhouse and then there's of course the option of a Grade 1 at Aintree.”
