Two from two for Ruby at Exeter Ruby Walsh made his visit to Exeter for two mounts pay off when Rebel Du Maquis and Tataniano did what the betting suggested - win with the minimum of fuss. Paul Nicholls described French-import Rebel Du Maquis as a very nice horse in a stable tour and he was fully justified in that assessment when the Highflyer Bloodstock purchase bolted-up in the Bathwick Tyres Taunton Novices' Hurdle. Racing in the New Little Bric colours of Kathy and Roy Stuart, Rebel Du Maquis led at the third and drew clear from two out to beat Robo by seventeen lengths. The short-priced Nicholls/Walsh double was completed half-an-hour later in the Zoya Vaux Birthday Best Mate Beginners Chase when fives on shot, Tataniano did what was expected of him on his chasing bow. A point-to-point winner for Pat Doyle, the French-bred, racing in the famous Stewart Family silks, looked quite comfortable throughout and he ended up accounting for Award Winner by a distance.
