'He had a lovely way of going' - Kingston Pride makes light work of rivals for impressive hurdling debut win for Nicky Henderson

Kingston Pride was cut to 40-1 for the Supreme and Turners at the Cheltenham Festival after cruising to success on his hurdling debut in the 2m4f maiden. 

The Nicky Henderson-trained five-year-old secured his third career victory with a smooth three-and-a-quarter-length win over Land Afar, making easy work of his five rivals under James Bowen.

Bowen said: "He had a lovely way of going, but he was a bit behind the bridle all the way. He jumped well, although he's a bit slow over them, and two out I got in close and thought I'd just kick him on down to the last. I got a cushion then to come back and he slowed down at the last, but he quickened away at the end there – he was good.

"He's well able to jump, he's won in points, he just probably needs to quicken up a bit over them, but that will have taught him a lot today."

Bowen was narrowly denied a double when Land Of Moon was edged out by the Henderson-trained Either Way under David Bass in the following 2m novice hurdle.

Bass, who rode for the Seven Barrows trainer as a claimer, told Sky Sports Racing: "I'm very lucky that I can ride out for Nicky Henderson once a week and we get on well, and back in the day he let me ride some very good horses.

"I've known Katie [Croft], who runs Canter Banter Racing [owners], for a long time as well and I'm very happy they gave me the ride."

Kingdom off the mark

Ajp Kingdom bumped into the subsequent Becher Chase winner King Turgeon on his last start and made no mistake in going one better under Tom Broughton in the 3m2f handicap chase.

Trainer Fergal O'Brien later doubled up when John Barbour took the bumper under Jack Hogan.

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