Finian’s Rainbow, Aiteen Thirtythree win at Newbury
Finian’s Rainbow won his debut race over fences, the Rooney/Hall Class 3 Novices’ Chase. Barry Geraghty rode to a victory ahead of h**l’s Bay and Sang Bleu in a three-horse race.
The Nicky Henderson-trained runner last took fifth at the Novices’ Hurdle in the Cheltenham festival and entered the race at Newbury as the favourite at 2-5 despite a history with smaller obstacles. The
seven-year-old will next make a bid for the Arkle Chase, racing at 14-1.
"It's almost certain we will stay at two miles, the Arkle is there. I hope he's top class,” said Henderson to Racing Post. "He was pretty tidy for a very big horse and put in some spectacular jumps."
Finian’s Rainbow held the lead for the whole race, while Noel Fehily rode Sang Bleu close behind until finally weakening in the home straight and leaving Sam Twiston-Davies-ridden h**l’s Bay to take third.
Fehily would make up for the loss later in the day with another Paul Nicholls-trained horse. The jockey rode Aiteen Thirtythree to a victory in the GPG Class 2 Novices’ Chase by 17 lengths ahead of Voramar
Two.
“He's a proper article,” said Nicholls. “He jumps, he gallops, that's all he's ever done. I've always liked him immensely and next year he'll be even better. He's a bit of a hype horse - he's just a bit
babyish, that's all.”
The next two across the line in the five-horse race were Be There In Five and Swincombe Rock, who ridden by Geraghty and Davies, Fehily’s opponents from earlier in the day. The fifth horse, Tell Massini,
suffered a back injury in a fall at the cross fence and has to be put down.
Tom George-trained Tell Massini was an unbeaten, dual Grade 2 winner over hurdles, both at Cheltenham. The six-year-old was 10-1 for the RSA Chase next March. Jockey Paddy Brennan suspected the worse after
the fall.
The fallen horse, ridden by Paddy Brennan, had led the race from the start before being overtaken by Aiteen Thirtythree just shy of the cross fence. The leading horse idled after the jump but was left
alone at the head of the field after Tell Massini’s fall, with the time to take the win in his own pace.
“I'm not sure the hustle and bustle of the RSA Chase will suit him and he could be one for the Hennessy next year,” said Nicholls.
Nicholls will present another Paul Barber-owned horse, Denman, as the favourite in the prestigious Hennessy Gold Gup.
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