Timeform Weekend Review: Mullins makes it 100 for the season

Weekend Review / Timeform / 03 March 2009 / Leave a Comment

Ebaziyan helps Irish trainer to three figures with solid hurdling win on the penultimate weekend before Cheltenham.

Newbury on Saturday saw Paul Nicholls' New Little Bric bounce back to form just a week on from pulling up in the Racing Post Chase at Kempton. The winner foiled a gamble on The Package, who finished seven lengths back in second after a mistake two out, and formed part of a treble for Nicholls, who also saw Indian Blood land the novice handicap hurdle and Definity score in the opening novice hurdle. In the concluding bumper, Nicky Henderson's Bellvano made amends for last weeks "communications break down" at Kempton.

At Doncaster Philip Hobbs struck when Out The Black won the Coolfun Grimthorpe Chase, whilst Alan King's four-timer signalled the well-being of his string with Cheltenham just over a week away, Lake Legend, Georgian King, Lidar and West End Rocker all striking for the Barbury Castle handler.

Over at Kempton Andrew Turnell's Captain Americo looked a stayer on the upgrade when easily winning the three mile handicap hurdle whilst Fix The Rib notched his fourth successive win in the novice handicap chase for Gary Moore.

Moore was also in action at Lingfield on Sunday when Benhego took his tally to two from two for his new trainer. He will reportedly be trained for a campaign over hurdles next season whilst in the opening seller Desert Dreamer gave Tom Dascombe his 11th win of the season.

Over in Ireland, Willie Mullins saddled his 100th winner of the season when combining with Ruby Walsh for a treble at Leopardstown on Sunday. Former Supreme Novices' Hurdle winner Ebaziyan was part of that treble when winning the Ballsbridge Hurdle and is likely to return to Cheltenham next week for a tilt at the Champion Hurdle.