Golden Ace back in business with Kingwell Hurdle success

Golden Ace returned to winning ways in gutsy fashion when coming out on top in a battle with Burdett Road in the BetMGM Kingwell Hurdle at Wincanton.

Jeremy Scott’s seven-year-old famously beat Brighterdaysahead in the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle at last season’s Cheltenham Festival but failed to reproduce that form in her first two outings this term.

Dropped back in distance to two miles for this Grade Two contest, Lorcan Williams was hard at work on Golden Ace turning for home but she responded well to that pressure.

The 6-5 favourite stayed on in determined fashion to beat Christmas Hurdle third Burdett Road by three-quarters of a length.

Williams told Racing TV: “It was a bit of a relief to be honest, because I wasn’t really happy all the way round. Her jumping was only OK, she wasn’t really travelling.

“I knew the better ground was out wide but I didn’t want to be that wide, so I thought if I could tuck her in and get her going again – and she was very tough.

“It hasn’t been plain sailing all this season. She hasn’t been 100 per cent and I think there’s still some improvement out of her, but I was amazed by how tough she was at the end, she had to really grind it out and all credit to the Jeremy Scott team.

“I’m very lucky to ride her and wherever she goes now, she’ll be in with a shout. If the owners want to have a go at the Champion Hurdle, then we’ll have a go and have a good day out, but this was our main target for her all year and it’s just very pleasing to get the job done.”

Proud owner Ian Gosden added: “This is the first time she’s actually come off the bridle. If you watch all her other wins, she’s been on the bridle to the last minute.

“This time, she’s really battled and I have to be honest, when she came off the bridle, I said that’s us done, because she was off a long way – and she still beat them, so I was thrilled.”

Asked about returning to Cheltenham next month, he said: “Third in the Champion Hurdle – I’d take that!”

Of Burdett Road, who was beaten only by Constitution Hill and Lossiemouth on Boxing Day and would have been a bit closer but for a mistake at the last, jockey Sam Twiston-Davies suggested the Champion Hurdle might remain on the radar.

“There’s 10 in the Champion at the minute, and some of the fillies/mares might go the other way, in which case you’re maybe looking at eight, and he’d generally beat a lot of them,” he said of James Owen’s charge.

“As far as the English horses go, he’s consistent, has a great attitude and he tries hard. He jumps well and a bit of nice ground would really help him.”