Henry Brooke© Photo Healy Racing
Connections of White Rhino have Cheltenham Festival aspirations after he maintained his unbeaten record over fences with an impressive display at Haydock.
Trained in partnership by Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero, the eight-year-old won five times over hurdles, including a victory at Cheltenham 12 months ago.
Having won on his introduction to the larger obstacles at Ayr a month ago, Henry Brooke’s mount was a 7-2 chance to follow up in the TrustATrader Apply Today Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase and drew four and a quarter lengths clear of the runner-up President Scottie.
There was a sad postscript to the race, with 9-4 favourite Beneficially Yours fatally injured in a fall three fences from home.
Of the winner, Guerriero said: “He just keeps improving and he was always going to be a better chaser, just because of the size of him.
“He’s done that really well. To be honest I thought it looked a very competitive race and I was worried we were just creeping up (in the weights) all the time and we can’t keep winning, but he’s definitely a stronger horse this season.”
The National Hunt Chase and the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase were raised as possible targets for the Festival in March and White Rhino could have an early sighter of the Cheltenham fences next month.
“We might go to Cheltenham in January for one of the trials or I think there’s a three-mile handicap chase there for him,” Guerriero added.
The Alan King-trained Ski Lodge carried the Noel Fehily Racing colours to success in the Watch On Racing TV Maiden Hurdle.
The Chepstow bumper winner disappointed on his hurdling bow at Ffos Las last month but showed his true colours on Merseyside, knuckling down after the final flight to see off the promising point-to-point recruit Jo Coko by a length and a quarter.
“There were a couple of nice horses in that race and we like our horse. He won his bumper at Chepstow nicely and we were hoping for that sort of performance today,” said Fehily.
“I think he ran a bit back to front the last day – he was too keen early and did too much and just ran a bit green. He was much better today, he settled well and Tom (Bellamy) gave him a good ride.
“He’s a good, tough horse. Whatever he does over hurdles, he’s a chaser for next year.”
Cloudy Glen (11-8 favourite) rolled back the years with a popular success in the trustatrader.com Veterans’ Handicap Chase.
The 11-year-old had not managed to get his head in front since his career-defining win in what is now the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury in 2021, but proved the fire still burns bright with a seven-and-a-half-length verdict under Charlie Deustch.
“I’m really pleased for him because he gave me a very special day and he’s enjoyed himself round there today, which is the main thing,” said Deutsch.
“These races give horses like him an opportunity. You hear of so many horses who win a big handicap and you never hear of them again. He really enjoyed himself, jumped well and it’s nice to have him back.”
