Noel Fehily promised an all-out assault on the conditional jockeys` crown after Special Agenda gave him his 33rd winner of the season today.
Charlie Mann`s charge jumped well before hitting the front on the home turn of the Kings Caple Novices Handicap Chase at Hereford and stormed clear to defeat Zabadi by nine lengths.
Fehily, who is now seven wins clear of his closest pursuer Paul Flynn in the race for the conditionals` title, said: 'It was my aim at the beginning of the season to go for the title and I rode all through the summer to make sure I got off on the right foot.
'I`ve been with Charlie for two years, firstly as an amateur when I rode 14 winners, and now as a conditional and he has been very good to me.
'Paul`s going to be a hard man to beat with the Philip Hobbs yard behind him but I`ll give it my best shot.'
Fehily only needs to partner another three winners to lose his right to claim but is undeterred.
'If you are going to lose your claim you might as well do it when you`re in flying form and I`m certainly looking forward to the rest of the season,' he said.
Special Agenda had only been in Mann`s care for a week and a half after the Upper Lambourn trainer snapped him up for 13,500 guineas at the Doncaster sales out of Noel Chance`s stable.
Seattle Alley`s victory in the Pencoed Selling Hurdle left trainer David Wintle mystified.
The winner had been well beaten in a similar contest at Uttoxeter on heavy ground five days ago when sent off 6-5 favourite.
Wintle said: 'I thought he was a penalty kick last week and the owners backed him accordingly, and I couldn`t believe he could run so poorly. He must like this course as he won here earlier this month.'
Fami overcame some sketchy jumps to take the Sidney Phillips For Pubs Handicap Chase by a couple of lengths from the staying on Bozo for the team of trainer Venetia Williams and jockey Norman Williamson.
The season`s leading amateur Tom Doyle was on the mark when Kaid proved four lengths too strong for Kind Sir in the Innplan Insurance Amateur Riders Hands and Heels Novices Handicap Hurdle.
Oliver Sherwood`s Hopeful maintained his 100% record over fences when staying on strongly in the testing ground under Jimmy McCarthy in the How Caple Novices` Chase.
Got News For You, ridden by Barry Keniry, sprang a 25-1 surprise when plugging on too gamely for Dean of Devon in the Widemarsh Novices` Hurdle.
