Joyeuse soared to victory at Newbury to maintain the William Hill Hurdle trophy within the yard of Nicky Henderson.
The gray is from the household of Epatante and like that mare is owned by JP McManus, for whom Henderson and Nico de Boinville mixed to win this race final season with Iberico Lord.
That horse was a part of the line-up as soon as once more however De Boinville opted to trip Joyeuse and she or he went off a 9-2 probability beneath a beneficial weight.
She thrived in a fast-paced race on tender floor, bursting clear within the remaining phases and crossing the road at a canter when eight lengths forward of Sam Thomas’ Lump Sum.
Joyeuse was lower to 8-1 by bookmakers for the County Hurdle however the mare will not be presently certified to run in a handicap on the Cheltenham Pageant.
“She’s good and she or he seemed actually good there, she travelled nicely, jumped nicely and did all the pieces proper,” stated Henderson.
“She’s bolted up actually and it’s important to say she was within the good place the entire manner. It was simply perfection and all over the place you seemed all of it appeared very simple.
“The step again in journey has suited her nicely and this was a true-run two miles and I believe a little bit of lower within the floor has helped as nicely.
“She will be able to’t go to a Cheltenham Pageant handicap as she wants one other run to get in and I am hardly going to run her once more between now and Cheltenham. She’s solely had 4 runs over hurdles and she or he wants one other to run in a handicap.
“It is induced a dilemma nevertheless it’s drawback.”
Henderson received the race for a seventh time and the coach was delighted to as soon as once more declare the richly-endowed prize at his native observe.
He added: “It is a fantastic race and a neighborhood race and one has adopted it for all these years. It is modified names a couple of instances however nicely accomplished to William Hill for coming in and sponsoring it – it means rather a lot to all people.
“She’s mare and all my winners have been good and are available right here beneath totally different guises. She was fairly inexperienced however she was good. That is solely the fourth hurdle race of her life.”
De Boinville was impressed with Joyeuse however described as “insanity” the very fact Joyeuse couldn’t go to a Cheltenham handicap at current.
He stated: “She went by the race very easy and jumped nice. It was very simple.
“It is insanity she will’t go to Cheltenham. I might say it is just about bonkers you can win a handicap like that however cannot run at Cheltenham, there’s extra money right here than Cheltenham.”
Grasp Chewy springs minor Sport Spirit shock
Grasp Chewy was not for beating when rewarding the persistence of his connections with success within the William Hill Greatest Odds Assured Sport Spirit Chase at Newbury.
The eight-year-old is educated by Nigel Twiston-Davies and was ridden by his son Sam as an 11-1 shot for the Grade Two task that had been an supposed goal for Nicky Henderson’s unbeaten Sir Gino.
The latter horse was a non-runner and the complexion of the race due to this fact modified, one thing Grasp Chewy took full benefit of when prevailing for the primary time since 2023 with a length-and-a-quarter victory over Libberty Hunter.
Matata, a stablemate of the winner, was despatched off the 11-8 favorite and he was in cost turning for residence earlier than the sector began to shut in on him.
He jumped the final in entrance however barely drifted on the run to the road, handing the initiative to the sport Grasp Chewy who stayed on all the way in which to interrupt his winless run.
Bookmakers halved Grasp Chewy’s Champion chase odds to 33-1 from 66-1 however the coach feels the longer Ryanair Chase could also be a extra appropriate possibility than taking up odds-on favorite Jonbon.
He stated: “He is acquired some smashing kind and he is acquired some actually good kind. Issues have not at all times gone his manner and he is been overwhelmed by horses developing the handicap, nevertheless it was an outstanding run.
“He was giving weight to Matata and he did a beautiful job. The humorous factor is each time they’ve raced in opposition to one another, Grasp Chewy has nearly at all times overwhelmed Matata. The one time it did not occur was when he fell within the Arkle and they’re each pretty horses and you may by no means cut up them.
“Grasp Chewy was at all times going to run on and end robust and doubtless wants additional – maybe we’ll run him in a Ryanair. I’ll speak to the consultants however the Ryanair might be simpler than the Champion Chase.
“The homeowners (Anne-Marie and Jamie Shepperd) have been very supportive, they’re our secure sponsors and are superstars. They misplaced I Like To Transfer It the opposite yr which was a horrible time however that was thrilling and great.”
Of Matata, he added: “It might need come too quickly after Windsor and that is what I am placing that all the way down to.
“He’ll go to the Champion Chase positively. He ran his coronary heart out final time and this has most likely come just a bit too quickly. We have got 4 or 5 weeks to the following one, so onwards and upwards.”
Evan Williams might additionally look to the Champion Chase with Libberty Hunter, with a handicap entry additionally on the desk.
He stated: “The horse ran nicely and there is no complaints, he was second finest on the day however gave us loads of optimism in that grade for the long run.
“It is such an enormous bounce to this degree and it is so good when you’ve got one that may bridge the hole.
“He can be entered within the Grand Annual and he is within the Champion Chase and we’ll should see what’s the best choice. Adam Wedge is satisfied he is a greater horse round Cheltenham than a flat observe.
“He deserves his place within the Champion Chase area maybe and if it got here up actually tender at Cheltenham, you is perhaps inclined to take a punt.”
