Bear Puts Down Champion Marker

Straw Bear emerged as a potential Champion Hurdle candidate for next season after a breathtaking performance in the John Smith's Imagine Appeal Top Novices' Hurdle at Aintree.

Nick Gifford's exciting prospect was beaten a neck by Noland in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham after fluffing the last flight.

But there were no such problems here as the 2-1 favourite cruised into the lead three from home under Tony McCoy before scooting 13 lengths clear of Conna Castle.

The victory impressed the layers and Straw Bear was cut to 10-1 with Ladbrokes and Stan James and 12-1 with William Hill and Paddy Power for the blue riband next March.

Gifford said: 'Once he gets his jumping a bit more slick we could have a Champion Hurdle horse on our hands.'

And reflecting on Straw Bear's convincing display he continued: 'That was richly deserved.

'Watching him come down the straight I that he was going just too easily. He was just swinging off him all the way round and this was great compensation.'

McCoy doubled up and Jonjo O'Neill reached a century for the season in some style as Black Jack Ketchum extended his unbeaten sequence to seven with a most impressive success in the Citroen C6 Sefton Novices' Hurdle.

The seven-year-old travelled and jumped well for the champion jockey and taking a slight advantage at the second-last, he soon eased clear to score by five lengths from Money Trix, with long-time leader Neptune Collonges a further half-length away in third.

The 8-13 winner is best priced at 4-1 with Cashmans for the Ladbroke World Hurdle at the 2007 Cheltenham Festival, and O'Neill said: 'He did everything nice, he is just a good horse.'

When asked how good, he added with a smile: 'How good do you want him to be, he is the best I have had, but until he gets beaten ? though I hope he never gets beat ? just to keep him sound is the best thing, you know.

'I don't care what price he is for the World Hurdle, as long as he gets there he will give them all a run won't he, but it is a long time to Cheltenham and anything can happen between now and then.'

Star De Mohaison completed a rare double in style when he powered home in the John Smith's Mildmay Novices' Chase.

The Paul Nicholls-trained gelding was following up his victory in the season's other top staying novice event, the Royal & SunAlliance Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, a feat last achieved by Monsieur Le Cure in 1994.

And just like at Prestbury Park it was Star De Mohaison's jumping which stood him in good stead against a high-class field.

The well-backed 11-4 favourite pulled his way to the front with a circuit to go and galloping on relentlessly the five-year-old saw off all challengers to beat Turpin Green and Copsale Lad by two lengths and the same.

The victory earned Star De Mohaison quotes ranging from 33-1 with William Hill down to 16-1 with Stan James, Coral and the sponsors for the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup.

'He's done something no other five-year-old has done before by landing the double and he's carried a Grade One penalty today and he's improving,' enthused Nicholls.

'We'll bring him back early next year and get him ready for the Charlie Hall and then take it from there, the King George at Kempton on good ground would be a possibility. If it's good ground the Charlie Hall would be the ideal race to start him off in.

'He may make up into a Gold Cup horse. He's going the right way, he's progressing and he jumps well.'

? PA Sport