Red Risk returned to the winner’s enclosure with a valuable victory in the JenningsBet Handicap Hurdle at
.
The 10-year-old, who is trained by Paul Nicholls and was ridden by Harry Cobden, had not tasted success since November 2022 but had rubbed shoulders in graded company since and performed with credit.
Down to a mark of 137 after a long time running off higher ratings, the Middleham Park-owned gelding was able to nab victory on the line at 22-1 as he saw off 3-1 favourite Joyeux Machin.
“His last run was very good and I just thought off a mark of 137 he would have a chance,” Cobden told Sky Sports Racing.
“I wasn’t quite sure if he’d be able to win off that, but he ran really well and we ended up nicking the lot.
“We’ve come in with a wet sail after the last and done him (the favourite) on the line, I’m very happy with that.”
Harry and Dan Skelton combined to take the JenningsBet 200 Shops Nationwide Handicap Hurdle with new recruit Hidden History.
The seven-year-old was making his first start for the stable having previously been trained by Chris Gordon, and was the 11-4 favourite for the two-and-a-half-mile event.
He duly delivered, crossing the line three and a quarter lengths ahead of Wellington Arch.
“We didn’t know a great deal about him, to be honest, but he’s done everything very nicely at home,” said the winning jockey.
“He stays quite nicely, I rode him there to come home nicely and that’s what he did.”