Churchstonewarrior (right) jumps the last upsides Mahler Mission © Photo Healy Racing
Market rivals Churchstonewarrior (9/4) and Mahler Mission (6/4 fav) had a great tussle from the third-last in the William Hill Ten Up Novice Chase with the former getting on top in the closing stages to score by three parts of a length.
Both horses were prominent throughout and the winner took a narrow lead after Mahler Mission hit three out. There was nothing between them over the last before Aidan Coleman's mount pulled out a bit extra up the hill.
The long-absent Flanking Maneuver making his chase debut after two years off, travelled well to give chase to the principals after two out before keeping on into third, half a length behind the runner-up.
Churchstonewarrior, cut to 11/2 (from 10s) for the National Hunt Chase, had finished second to smart types on all three previous chase outings, including at Grade 1 level over Christmas.
“That's great, he was good,” said winning trainer Jonathan Sweeney.
“Aidan was very happy with him and said he jumped well. He said you couldn't say that he really missed the second last, he got in very tight but was away quick. He jumped very cleverly.
“I'll talk to the lads now and see but he's in the National Hunt Challenge at Cheltenham. We'll get over today and see how he is tomorrow.
“He maybe takes a little bit of time to warm up but the further he goes the better he seems to be.
“He's developing away, he's improving all the time. I'd imagine he could be a National horse in time.
“It's an old pedigree and I think he'll improve a lot. The last day Aidan rode him he said 'you probably won't have a horse until next year' because he's immature. He's eight but they are all different.
“I'm delighted for the owners, they are a great bunch of lads. They were getting a fair bit of money for him last year.
“He was vetted and was going, Tom (Hegarty) rang me one evening and asked what I thought and I said 'I'd have to sell him if he was mine' but they kept him anyway, which was great. They are gutsy men and good lads to work with.”
Quotes from Gary Carson
