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Top Notch states Champion Hurdle case at Kelso

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TOP NOTCH

Top Notch (right): comfortably scores at Kelso on Thursday

  PICTURE: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)  

 By Andrew Dietz 3:45PM 18 FEB 2016 

A DAY after the Champion Hurdle picture was blown wide open following the sensational ruling out of red-hot favourite Faugheen, Top Notch staked his claim for a shot at glory with a clear-cut success in the Timeform Morebattle Hurdle at Kelso.

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Last year’s JCB Triumph Hurdle runner-up finished only fifth when a well beaten favourite in last month’s Relkeel Hurdle but he bounced back when coming home on the bridle to win by 12 lengths under jockey Daryl Jacob.

William Hill trimmed Top Notch into 25-1 (from 28) for the Stan James-sponsored showpiece, while Paddy Power went 20-1 (from 25). Annie Power is the general 2-1 favourite for the race.

Winning connections, trainer Nicky Henderson and owners Simon Munir and Isaac Souede, also have Triumph Hurdle winner Peace And Co, who has performed below expectation in two starts this season, quoted in the Champion Hurdle market and Paddy Power took the decision to lengthen his odds to 20-1 (from 16) following Top Notch’s victory.

Jacob said: “I was very pleased with that and it will have done his confidence good after his disappointing run last time when he ran a bit flat after a couple of quick races.

“This season was always going to be tough for him and it’s nice that he has got his head back in front. He’s pretty versatile ground wise, but whether both he and Peace And Co will run in the Champion is up to the boss, though it looks an easier race now that it did earlier in the week.”

Unioniste cut for National

In the following race, the Ivan Straker Memorial Chase, Unioniste also won impressively, in his case by nine lengths, and was subsequently cut to a general 25-1 (from 33) for the Crabbie’s Grand National.

The 10-11 favourite, owned by Grand National-winning owner John Hales, built on his promising run at Sandown 12 days ago.

Winning jockey Nick Scholfield said: “He’s certainly coming to himself now. In the Becher he wasn’t quite himself but he’s coming to himself now.

“I’ll leave it to the boss to decide but he’ll be a better horse there than he was in the Becher. He’ll love the ground and distance. If he can get a clear run he has a lot of things in his favour.”

The Paul Nicholls-trained Unioniste was allocated 10st 8lb as the National weights were announced this week.

Death of Neptune Equester

There was a sad postscript to the race after local hero Neptune Equester, two-time winner of the Scottish Borders National at the track for trainer Sandy Thomson and owner Jim Beaumont, collapsed and died after finishing second.

The 13-year-old, who finished 13th in the 2012 Grand National when trained by Brian Ellison, won nine of his 47 starts and amassed £124,564 in career earnings.

 

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