NOBLE VICTORY FOR LORD

Pony-sized chaser Noble Lord refused to be overawed by more powerful rivals at Haydock Park today as he cemented his claims for a place in the Martell Grand National.

The eight-year-old, off the track since last April, showed no fear of the big fences on the way to victory in the New Year Handicap Chase.

He was sent on by Warren Marston approaching the final fence and stayed on strongly to defeat Village King by nine lengths.

Noble Lord, second in the Scottish Grand National on his last outing, is quoted at 33-1 by Ladbrokes for Aintree.

Trainer Richard Phillips is hopeful that his charge`s lack of inches will not prove to be a problem.

'It maybe a silly dream but the Grand National is always the race I`ve really wanted to win,' said the trainer.

'We`ll certainly be giving the horse an entry. I`m sure he`s tough enough for the race _ if his leg dropped off he`d keep going.

'I think he would clear the fences OK although whether the jockey would do as well is another matter.'

Richard Johnson`s switch from the abandoned Sandown fixture paid off as he landed a double aboard the Philip Hobbs-trained pair Black Dante and St Mellion Par.

Johnson needed to be at his strongest to ensure Black Dante took the spoils in the Annual Badgeholders Club Novices` Hurdle.

The 5-2 favourite was challenged strongly by two rivals on the run-in and had to be driven out for a two and a half length verdict over Winchester.

The winner was carrying the same colours as the 1986 Grand National hero West Tip and continuing a long-standing association between owner Peter Luff and Hobbs.

'We go back a long way and I actually rode West Tip in his first race when he won a two-mile novices` hurdle at Warwick at 33-1,' said Hobbs.

Black Dante, a winner of point-to-points in the West Country, will be jumping fences in due course.

'He`s still very green and we will leave chasing until next season,' said Hobbs.

St Mellion Par made light of a long absence to comfortably beat the favourite Ballystone in the Brewester Novices` Handicap Chase.

'This was only his second chase but he has always jumped well and we were confident he would handle the fences,' said Hobbs.

Peter Niven edged nearer his 1,000th career when guiding Simply Gifted home in the Oldham Novices` Chase.

The six-year-old, equipped with blinkers for the first time, pulled easily clear from the final fence to take care of Hannigan`s Lodger.

'I don`t really want to talk about the 1,000 until I get there but a few more like this and I wouldn`t be complaining,' said Niven.

Simply Gifted is trained by Tim Easterby and his father Peter said: 'He did it quite well but he`s still not as good over fences as he was over hurdles.

'We put the blinkers on because we thought he was keeping a bit for himself and they would make it easier for his jockey. But in the end it probably didn`t make any difference.'

Supreme Fortune, who unluckily unseated his rider last time, made amends when producing a late charge to seize the Willows Handicap Hurdle.