Hurricane Bay could head to the Sefton Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree’s Grand National Festival having returned to winning ways at Doncaster on Wednesday.
Lucy Wadham's seven-year-old shed his maiden tag on Town Moor in November and was making his third appearance at the South Yorkshire track having also finished a gallant third in the Grade Two River Don Novices' Hurdle last month.
Sent off the 4-9 for the Virgin Bet EBF 'National Hunt' Novices' Hurdle, he had just three other rivals to beat and although the winning margin of 47 lengths suggests victory was a formality, John Quinn's Imperial Merlin was determined to make a real race of it before coming down at the final flight.
"It was a bit of a shame that Imperial Merlin came down at the last as it would have been interesting to see what would have happened. Although I did feel we did have him covered," said Wadham.
"We wanted to find something a bit easier for him as he has had some quite tough races, obviously it has worked out well and we're delighted.
"Although he's qualified for Sandown, I think we will go to Aintree for the three-mile novice hurdle. He will probably have an entry in the three-mile handicap as well but I suspect we will end up in the novice.
"He obviously ran very well in the River Don and presumably we will have to meet the winner and the second again. I do think Aintree, the track and the ground, will suit him and it's worth a go – he's rated 133 now and I think he's entitled to have a go."
Harry Derham is hoping Shared (4-1) has done enough to earn a spot in the Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival following his win in the Virgin Bet Daily Money Back Novices' Hurdle.
"Paul (O'Brien, jockey) produced the tactics perfectly," said the former assistant to Paul Nicholls.
"He ran pretty well at Musselburgh last time, he just didn't handle the last track, but we needed to get three runs into him. A big, galloping track, going left-handed was always going to suit him much better and he's done it really nicely, he's progressive.
"That (the Boodles) is the ambition and dream and you would like to think after winning two and only beaten four lengths in a Listed race, you would get in now. He's the type of horse that is tough and hardy, jumps slick and you would like to think he would run a nice race."
All eyes were on Beep Beep Burrow in the concluding Virgin Bet Daily Price Boosts Open National Hunt Flat Race, but the 2-1 favourite was swiftly pulled up way before Neil Mulholland's Inoui Machin (11-4) got the better of Cuban Court in a pulsating finish.
