Minella shows his class Minella Class lived up to his name to totally dominate the 32Red Hurdle (formerly the Tolworth Hurdle) for Nicky Henderson and Barry Geraghty, justifying some heavy morning support that pushed his price in from 11-4 to 6-4 favourite. The former Irish-trained gelding took charge of the Grade One race after the final flight on the far side and once in front never looked like surrendering a lead that widened to seven lengths from Megastar at the line. The deposed favourite Toubab finished a tired third with jockey Sam Thomas reporting the gelding did not enjoy the going. Henderson reckons his smart winner may go down the Neptune Novices' Hurdle route at the Festival, for which he was cut to 12-1 from 16s by William Hill and gained a 12-1 first show with both totesport and Paddy Power, rather than the shorter Supreme Novices' Hurdle. The Seven Barrows trainer said: "On his Irish form he'd run in these conditions before. He stayed really well and quickened up. "I would think it would be up to two and a half miles - the Sidney Banks Hurdle at Huntingdon would make sense to see if he stays, but I imagine he will. He'll obviously make a lovely chaser, but that's for another day."
