Racing:There was no more appropriate man than Nicky Henderson to welcome back National Hunt racing on turf as Mad Max wetted the appetite for bigger days ahead with victory on his debut over fences.
Henderson is the leading trainer by some way at the Sunbury track and his giant eight-year-old warmed up for the Irish Independent Arkle Trophy by edging out Mahonia in the williamhill.com — Play Poker Novices’ Chase.
The race was the second on the card as Kempton entertained jumps fans after a near two-week exile due to the ‘big freeze’ and Mad Max treated them to some superb and fluent jumping.
The 5-6 favourite impressed despite a slight mistake at the second-last and Barry Geraghty’s had his odds cut for the Arkle on March 16th.
Micheal Flips marked himself down as a rising force with victory here on St Stephen’s Day 2008 and he struck for the first time since in the williamhill.com Lanzarote Handicap Hurdle.
The testing ground had the field well strung out turning back towards the stands but Micheal Flips (9-1) travelled strongly and went on approaching the second-last for a hearty success.
Champion trainer Paul Nicholls endured a day of mixed emotions with a near 10-1 brace overshadowed by his Lanzarote faller Shamari tragically collapsing and dying in the stables after the race.
The champion trainer welcomed in his first winner of 2010 as The Minack capitalised on Kennel Hill’s waywardness in the williamhill.com — Live Casino Novices’ Hurdle.
The 13-8 favourite was in control until downing tools over the final couple of flights, which allowed Ruby Walsh to streak past aboard the 9-4 winner and inflict an eight-length beating.
Anak became the first winner over jumps since January 3rd as the mud-loving 5-1 chance made all under Tom Scudamore in the driving rain to take the williamhill.com/bonus25 — Sign Up Bonus Juvenile Novices’ Hurdle.
Iconoclast (5-1) ran out a laughably easy winner of the William Hill — 0800 44 40 40 Novices’ Handicap Chase, with Novikov (9-2) foiling the bid of 3-1 favourite William Hogarth in the williamhill.com — Vegas Games Handicap Hurdle.