Fiddlerontheroof takes Tolworth
A dominant performance from the Colin Tizzard-trained Fiddlerontheroof saw the youngster take top honours in the Grade 1 Tolworth Novices’ Hurdle at Sandown on Saturday.
The six-year-old continued his development through the ranks by capturing the two-mile event, breezing past his rivals up the hill to win by six lengths from Irish raider Jeremys Flame.
Fiddlerontheroof became the third winner of the race for Tizzard after 2016 hero Finian’s Oscar and last year’s victor Elixir Du Nutz.
Jockey Robbie Power said: “We went a good gallop on very testing ground, which brings his stamina into play. The further we went the better he was going. He’s a big, strong horse and handled that ground really well.
“We won’t make a decision about which race he will run in yet but if there’s a soft Cheltenham, he will run in the Supreme. He will probably have entries in both.”
An exciting renewal of the veterans’ final at Sandown saw the Anthony Honeyball-trained Jepeck overcame interference from a loose horse to win the three-mile event.
Horatio Hornblower, an earlier casualty, veered across the 11-year-old as he approached the final fence but his jockey, Rex Dingle, corrected his mount and the pair held off the late challenge of Regal Flow to score by a short-head.
Today’s racing
All eyes will be on Envoi Allen at Naas in Ireland today as he contests the Grade 1 Lawlor’s Of Naas Novice Hurdle (2m4f).
Having bypassed Leopardstown’s Christmas meeting, the six-year-old will look to add a third Grade 1 to his name as well as stretching his unbeaten record to seven since being purchased for £400,000 in 2018.
Plumpton’s seven-race jumps card features the Sky Sports Racing Sussex National over 3m4½f while there is all-weather action from Southwell.
