Kykorock relished a step up in trip to take the valuable JenningsBet Novices’ Handicap Chase as Dan Skelton enjoyed a treble at Uttoxeter.
Ridden by Skelton’s brother Harry, the six-year-old was taking on three miles for the first time and had soft ground to contend with also in a race that was sure to test the stamina.
At 4-1 the bay, who has been finding his way over fences this season, passed the test convincingly when claiming a three-quarter-length victory.
The winning rider told Sky Sports Racing: “He’s been going the right way. I must admit, after the Midlands National I said to Dan ‘are you going to run him over three miles for the first time on that ground?’ but I’m glad we did.
“We knew he’d stay but he’s just been quite hard on himself so we have kept him at two miles, he can race very keenly.
“I’m delighted for Rachel (Wilson, owner) because she put a lot in and she’s getting the rewards now.
“She’s had a good few horses in her time and she’s got a nice one.”
Dan Skelton also trained the winner of the JenningsBet Handicap Chase in Jasmin De Cotte, who was a 12-1 winner under Charlie Todd, and the concluding Jenningsbet Mares’ Open National Hunt Flat Race as Sassipants prevailed at 9-2 with his brother in the saddle.
Ben Jones enjoyed a double for two different trainers, firstly taking the JenningsBet Handicap Hurdle aboard Emma Lavelle’s Doughmore Bay.
At 16-1 the eight-year-old was not a warm order in the betting, but defeated the 5-4 favourite, A Pai De Nom, by a length on the line.
Jones then partnered Ben Pauling’s Dig Deep in the JenningsBet ‘National Hunt’ Novices’ Hurdle, and the 9-2 shot came home six lengths to the good to step forward significantly from previous efforts.
“I really, really liked him at the start of the year,” said the jockey.
“He was looking like he was going to be a machine. I was really pleased the first day but he’s just gone backwards since.
“This is the first time he’s had his ground again and he absolutely loved it.
“He travelled so well, he jumped fantastic. Genuinely, I thought he was one of our nicer novices for the season and he then disappointed me, but that’s more like the horse we thought we had.”
Elsewhere on the card, Wellington Arch won the JenningsBet 200 Shops Nationwide Handicap Hurdle as the 100-30 favourite for Jonjo and AJ O’Neill and Jonjo O’Neill Jr.
