Warwick winner who was backed from 100-1 hit with 52lb increase by handicapper

Danilo D'Airy, the horse who coasted to a nine-length win at Warwick on Saturday evening despite being 38lb out of the handicap and had been gambled down to 13-2 from 100-1, has been hit with a 52lb hike by the BHA handicapper.

The eight-year-old, trained by Robert Bevis, had been officially rated 35 when he lined up for the 7.50 at Warwick, the Racing TV Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Chase, but will race off a mark of 87 when he next appears over fences. He had been entered for a quick turnaround at Ffos Las on Monday, before his new mark was revealed, but was declared a non-runner on raceday.

Watch the replay of Danilo D'Airy's Warwick win

He is the lowest-rated horse to win a jumps handicap since 1994. The Caroline Keevil-trained Arctic Flow had previously held that record when winning off an official rating of 37 at Plumpton in January 2011 as a 40-1 shot.

There was plenty of market confidence in Danilo D'Airy prior to his Warwick win as he was backed from 100-1 on Friday night to a starting price of 13-2, although the field was reduced by three runners to 13 during the course of Saturday.

Danilo D'Airy was Robert Bevis's second winner under rulesCredit: Andrew Dietz

A point winner at Larkhill in December 2018 when trained by John Benfield, Danilo D'Airy had only made three starts under rules for Bevis in the intervening 29 months, all in novice or maiden hurdles at starting prices of 100-1, 150-1 and 200-1. He had been beaten 93 lengths, was pulled up, and then beaten 98 lengths on his most recent start in February.

While he did have a successful pointing background, Danilo D'Airy gave Jordan Nailor little to worry about in the three-mile contest as he jumped well throughout, leading after the first fence and never seeing another rival, with his dominance allowing the conditional jockey to ease him down on the run-in.

The Racing Post in-running comment

Jumped well, close up, led after 1st, soon went clear, hit 3 out, pushed along home turn, kept on well until eased run-in

In the stewards' report from Warwick, Bevis explained "that the yard appeared to be in better form at present and Danilo D'Airy had appreciated the step up to three miles as well as benefiting from a return to jumping fences, with the gelding having won a point-to-point".

The trainer, having just his second winner under rules from 19 runners since starting in February 2019, added in the report "that Danilo D'Airy had also appreciated the slower ground on this occasion", which was officially described as soft, heavy in places.

Bevis's explanation was noted by the stewards and the gelding was routine tested.

A BHA spokesperson said on Tuesday: “Danilo D’Airy was assessed on the basis of his performance in three hurdle races, in which he was beaten 93 lengths, pulled up, and between again by 97.75 lengths. He was successful when subsequently switched to fences and has been reassessed on the basis of this performance.”

The analyst's verdict

Danilo D'Airy won a point in 2018, but had showed precious little over hurdles in three starts last winter. Racing off a mark 38lb out of the handicap, he'd been well backed, and never looked like getting beat. A big, strong chasing type, he relished the ground and jumped soundly bar one mistake. The handicapper will react to this and he will get a monumental hike in the weights. [Steve Payne]

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