Gavin Cromwell dominated proceedings at Fairyhouse on Saturday with a four timer. The 94 rated Flat racer Sixandahalf provided the highlight with an impressive performance on her jumping bow in the two miles two mares' maiden hurdle. The daughter of Snow Sky ran out an emphatic twelve lengths scorer and looks a leading contender for the Grade 2 Dawn Run Mares' Novices Hurdle at Cheltenham in March. Third in the Irish Cesarewitch at the Curragh in late September last year, she was due to contest the English equivalent at Newmarket the following month until ruled out on the day. There is every chance she will head straight to Gloucestershire in the spring without another run beforehand.
Handstands defied a five pounds penalty to win the rescheduled Grade 2 Towton Novices' Chase at Ffos Las winning by a dozen lengths. Ben Pauling's progressive young chaser took control approaching the fourth last and dominated thereafter as carnage ensued in behind with three of his rivals coming to grief at the third from home. His trainer has indicated the Grade 1 Scilly Isles Novices' Chase at Sandown (1st February) is likely to be next before skipping Cheltenham and heading to Aintree in April.
Incidentally, the Towton Novices' Chase is the only Graded novice chase in the north until Aintree in April. Rerouted from Wetherby to South Wales, it was no surprise there weren't any northern runners on Saturday. It is little wonder that jump racing is struggling in the north. Why couldn't it have been rescheduled for Haydock next weekend (18th January) - there used to be a Grade 2 novice chase on their card over two and a half miles. Indeed, the Altcar Novices Chase was won by some very good horses - Waiting Patiently beat Politilogue in 2017.
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