RACING: Howard Johnson was left enthusing that Lord Transcend is potentially the best horse he has trained after watching the gelding extend his unbeaten record to three with a convincing success in the Ken Bright Handicap Hurdle at Newcastle yesterday.
Johnson, who also teamed up with winning jockey Graham Lee to complete a double at Aintree on Sunday, said: "I have had some good horses like Direct Route, Morcelli and Ushers Island but this could be the one I have been waiting for. I have fallen in love with him and I have never had a buzz about a horse like I have about him - he has given the stable a real pep up and I will put him away now until February."
Andy Scott is not surprisingly already looking ahead to the Cheltenham Festival next spring after watching Little Sport put up another smart performance under Seamus Durack in the EBF National Hunt Novices' Hurdle (qualifier). He was staying on so well that it took Seamus Durack some time to pull him up, and Scott, who sent out Hills Guard to win the County Hurdle some years ago, said: "We will have to think about Cheltenham (Royal & SunAlliance Hurdle). He will come up that hill won't he?"
Mary Reveley has a splendid record at the course and she completed a double, Man Murphy's success not being unexpected in the nitex.co.uk Novices' Chase but 10 to 1 chance Robbo shocked punters when beating his odds-on stable companion Junkanoo in the handicap hurdle.
Mrs Reveley could hardly believe her eyes as Robbo passed the post in front in the hands of conditional Barry Walsh and she said: "He i had the class to win it if he wanted to and he did today!"
The scheduled meeting at Tramore tomorrow has been abandoned because of the unfit state of the ground.
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