Majlis in Lanzarote triumph

David Dennis gained the plaudits and lost his right to claim as Majlis took the Stg#40,000 Tote Scoop6 Lanzarote Hurdle at Kempton today.

The jockey gained his 65th career winner as he held the 7-1 chance together to land the spoils in the meeting`s feature contest.

Majlis made a bad error at the final flight and Dennis lost an iron as he tried to keep his position in the saddle.

But although Copeland threw down a challenge on the run-in, that rival didn`t seem all too keen to go past the winner and went down by a length.

Trainer Tom George chose to accompany three runners to Wincanton but owner Terry Warner, whose yellow and black colours have been a regular fixture over the jumps for many seasons, was on hand to welcome in the winner.

'We had nothing to lose by running him here,' said Warner. 'If he hadn`t won we might still have picked up some nice prize-money.

'We didn`t know how well handicapped he was but there was only one way to find out!

'I thought Copeland was going to go past but he didn`t seem that keen, did he?'

Dennis, 22, was delighted to achieve his landmark victory.

'He just propped at the last, which he has done before, and the iron popped out,' he said.

'I thought I`d better just put my head down and keep kicking with him.

'I think that`s number 65 so that`s the claim gone. I was worried that Kingsmark might run at Haydock today and then I would have had to have decided between coming here and going up there.

'Fortunately, he didn`t so I am delighted to ride a winner for Mr George, who along with the boss, Mr (Ian) Williams, has been very good at giving me opportunities.

'Winning on Kingsmark in the Edward Hanmer earlier this season was probably my greatest moment and I hope I have some more like that to enjoy in the future.'

French trainer Guillaume Macaire left punters guessing after Heros Collonges made a most impressive British debut.

The seven-year-old gelding jumped into contention for the Royal & SunAlliance Chase at the Cheltenham Festival by making most of the running to win the Sunbury Novices` Chase.

But Macaire surprised everyone afterwards when revealing that Heros Collonges _ who is owned by British-based John Hales of One Man fame _ may not go to Cheltenham as he has another contender for the big race.

Japhet, who is already a prolific winner in France, is set to make his bow in these shores at Newbury in three weeks` time.

Coral make Japhet their ante-post 7-2 favourite for the SunAlliance with Heros Collonges next best at 6-1. Katarino and Valley Henry head up the British contingent at 10-1.

'It is difficult to get a good idea of his ability,' said Macaire of today`s winner.

'We have a large choice of races for him and he will be entered for the SunAlliance. I think he will go next for a race at Ascot.

'But we also have Japhet and I would not want to see the two horses in competition.

'Heros Collonges comes from a late-maturing family and I won`t want to hurry him.'

After the early departure of second-favourite Chives, Heros Collonges did not have much to beat but he did it impressively enough under jockey Benoit Gicquel.

Sent off the 10-11 favourite, he beat solid yardstick Duchamp by 27 lengths and jumped well in the main on his first attempt over British fences.

Macaire was completing an across-the-card double, having also been successful at Haydock with Jair Du Cochet.

Punters who had latched on to ante-post Triumph Hurdle favourite Londoner were dealt a blow in the January Juvenile Novices` Hurdle when Martin Pipe`s charge proved a bitter disappointment.

The favourite jumped markedly left over the first two obstacles before cocking his jaw on the run to the next and trying to run out, unseating Tom Scudamore.

The horse completed a circuit without his rider and returned safe and sound but the performance cannot have done his Festival ambitions any good.

On the other hand, 7-1 chance Burning Impulse belied his inexperience to make a winning hurdling debut in impressive fashion.

Held up in touch in the early stages, Paul Webber`s charge made steady progress to challenge French raider Domirome at the second-last and pulled clear to score by four lengths, the pair well clear.

A useful performer on the Flat for Jeremy Noseda, he was bought by Dublin solicitor Patrick Delaney at the Horses in Training sale last Autumn for 120,000 guineas.

'It was a thrill to get him as he was the absolute nap of the sales,' said Webber.

'Fortunately, we had an owner who was brave enough to spend all that money. He`s a gorgeous horse with a wonderful nature and still a colt.

'He is out of a staying mare which gives us hope that he will stay a stiff two miles at Cheltenham. But he looks like a jumper and he is very exciting.'

Coral eased Londoner out from 7-1 to 12-1 while Burning Impulse is a 20-1 chance from 40-1.

Henrietta Knight was absent as her stable pet, Red Blazer, scored an impressive victory in the opening Twickenham Novices` Chase.

The attractive 11-year-old had not managed to get his head in front over fences until this season but managed his second success of the term here, turning in a first-class round of jumping before scoring by an easy seven lengths from Another Raleagh.

He had broken a blood vessel on his last start in better company but there were no such problems today.

'Henrietta would have loved to have seen him win again today but she is in Ireland having a look at a couple of point-to-pointers,' said Knight`s husband Terry Biddlecombe.

'I`ve no idea why he bled last time but he got very jazzed up beforehand whereas today he was perfectly relaxed throughout.

'He looks a picture, in fact he looks like he could run again tomorrow.'

Winning rider Jim Culloty completed a double when King On The Run took the Super Tactics Handicap Chase.

Sadly, the 14-year-old veteran after whom the race is named ran a rare below-par race, finishing last of the five finishers.