Hargam just prevails at Kempton Nicky Henderson was delighted Hargam made the most of suitable race conditions to end a 20-month lean spell in the Better Odds With Betfair Exchange Hurdle at Kempton. Hargam was receiving weight from his four rivals, but was all out in the hands of Barry Geraghty as he edged Court Minstrel by a neck after a terrific tussle from the final flight. Geraghty, retained rider for owner JP McManus, switched to Hargam (11-4) following the late defection of stablemate My Tent Or Yours because of unsuitable ground. Though it was a close call, it was job done for Hargam in the Listed heat over two miles. "He was a good four-year-old and placed in a Triumph Hurdle, but that makes life difficult," Henderson told Racing UK. "He had a fruitless season last year, purely because he gets caught in no-man's land and he isn't the biggest. "We tried him in all the Grade Ones last year and he's not in that league, so it's nice to find a race like this where he can at least get his head in front. He's got a prize, which is great. "The conditions of the race favoured him enormously, so he took his chance. He had to go and win that so we have to be pleased." Black Corton (9-4) put up a fine performance when making the all the running in the other Listed race on the card, the Pay And Watch Racing UK Via Mobile Novices' Hurdle, in the hands of Nick Scholfield. The five-year-old saw off 4-7 shot Taper Tantrum as he came home 10 lengths ahead of New Agenda to complete a double for Paul Nicholls. Scholfield said: "We built it up all the way down the back straight and into the home straight, so stamina told in the end. Our fellow kept galloping. "Two and a half miles over fences will be his game." Cliffs Of Dover (11-8) benefited from the exit two out of odds-on favourite Lord Huntingdon to take the racinguk.com/hd Juvenile Hurdle under 3lb conditional Harry Cobden. There was little between the pair when Lord Huntingdon unseated Wayne Hutchinson, leaving the Nicholls-trained three-year-old to saunter home by 18 lengths from Tasty Ginger for his third win in four starts. Cobden completed a double on Miss Tenacious (10-1) in the Racing UK HD On Sky432 Handicap Chase to give trainer Ron Hodges his first winner for 144 days. Going on three out, the nine-year-old mare soon built up a handy lead and went on to score by a length and three-quarters from Noche De Reyes. Alain Cawley was taken to hospital for assessment after a tumble from Surf And Turf at the fifth-last fence, having walked gingerly off the track. Best Boy Barney (5-2 joint-favourite) jumped for fun as he led from start to finish in the Read Paul Nicholls Exclusively At Betfair Handicap Chase over three miles. Jeremy Scott's 10-year-old served Matt Griffiths well in shrugging off all-comers to score by two and a quarter lengths from Golanova. The Tom George-trained Valseur Du Granval (3-1 joint-favourite) took over from the pace-setting Prince Khurram before two out and went on to score by seven lengths from that rival under Adrian Heskin in the Cash Out With Betfair Chase. Charlie Longsdon's Leith Hill Lad (2-1) got the better of Lough Derg Leader by a length to take the Racing UK Profits Returned To Racing 'National Hunt' Novices' Hurdle under Aidan Coleman.
