Prairie Wolf books Topham ticket with Newbury strike
By Racing TV
Last Updated: Sat 21 Mar 2026
Prairie Wolf booked his ticket to the Topham at Aintree when landing a notable blow for the north in the BetVictor Home Of The Saturday Superboost Handicap Chase at Newbury.
A winner at Newcastle last month, he was sent off at 4-1 and although Paul Nicholls’ course winner Twinjets made a bold bid from the front, Prairie Wolf was always in the prime position to strike under Jack Tudor, taking up the running after the last to win by a length and three-quarters.
It represents another Saturday success for the Bingley team of Joel Parkinson and Sue Smith, with the nine-year-old just the partnership’s second runner at Newbury.
Parkinson said: “He’s run a big race and I was a little worried about the ground as I thought it might be on the quick side for him, and I think it was actually, but it was the same for them all.
“We’re happy to get his head in front again and it’s nice to come down south and do it. It’s his third win of the season and his second good pot as well.”
Confirming plans to now seek further riches at Aintree over the Grand National fences, he added: “He’s got an entry in the Topham and providing he’s all OK in the morning we will stick to that plan.
“I think he’s the right profile for it and he could improve for those fences so we’ll get him ready for that in a few weeks.”
In the opening Castle Windows Newbury Anniversary Novices’ Hurdle, Chris Gordon’s Dovecote runner-up Kocktail Bleu gained the victory his form deserved to oblige as the even-money favourite.
He will now head to Sandown on the final day of the jumps season for the £100,000 bet365 Novices’ Championship Final Handicap Hurdle.
Gordon said: “He was second in the Dovecote, but in his two runs before that he was beaten by a horse who went on to run a blinder when fourth in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle and then at Kelso by a nice horse who ran well in the EBF Final.
“So he came here with his form pretty solid but then I looked at this and thought there were a few interesting and unexposed horses like Gambino who was third to Constitution Hill on the Flat and you’re just hoping you are not going to bump into another one.
“He didn’t thankfully, he won well and the bonus is we were 125 and top rated and we shouldn’t move above that – to win a race and hopefully stay on the same mark is great.
“We will go to Sandown at the end of the season for the £100,000 race for which he is qualified. He qualified for that when second at Kelso and it’s great to have that to look forward to.”
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