'I had £100 on at 14-1' - Brown Advisory hope Loughderg Rocco delivers for owner

Wednesday: Leicester

All eyes were on Unexpected Party, who was third in Grade 1 company behind Arkle favourite Jonbon last time, but the odds-on favourite was comprehensively turned over by Loughderg Rocco in the 2m4f novice chase.

The six-year-old was only beaten half a length by the talented Gelino Bello on his chasing debut over three miles in October, but scored comprehensively by 12 lengths over the shorter trip after making all under Adam Wedge.

James Derry, one of the Newark Castle Partnership, which owns the promising son of Shirocco, was delighted to have got on the bigger prices available for the eventual 5-1 shot on Tuesday evening.

"I had £100 on at 14-1," he said. "I couldn't believe he was that price! We knew we'd got a nice one and we were quite confident today."

A return to Cheltenham, where he was fifth in a Grade 2 novice hurdle behind Blazing Khal last year is the likely next destination for Loughderg Rocco, who will be aimed for the Brown Advisory Novices' Chase.

"He'll go straight to Cheltenham," said Derry. "He wouldn't want it to get too soft and long-term the target would be the Scottish Grand National."

Trainer Laura Morgan added: "Dan Skelton's horse [Unexpected Party] was obviously the one to beat. I thought we'd go close but I didn't quite think we'd beat him. He's a three-miler but it's a stiff two and a half here and I thought we'd make good use of him. He's done it seriously impressively.

"I've always held him in really high regard. Ground is the key with him – he can't have it too soft. He's bone-idle, he doesn't do a stroke at home, he's just one of those horses who has to be fresh. It's exciting."

Skeltons strike

Skelton gained compensation for Unexpected Party's defeat when Playful Saint and Our Jet, both ridden by the trainer's brother Harry, justified 2-1 and 13-8 favouritism respectively to complete a double.

Playful Saint chased home Cheltenham Festival-winning mare Love Envoi at Sandown last time and was introduced at 20-1 for the County Hurdle by Betfair after going one better in the 1m7½f handicap hurdle, while Our Jet recorded a first win over fences in the 2m4f handicap chase.

Gold for Bevis

Robert Bevis had not saddled a winner since Turning Gold struck at 40-1 at this track in February and the same horse was on hand to provide the Cheshire-based trainer with another notable success when bolting up by 99 lengths under Gavin Sheehan in the seller.

Bevis, who has held a permit since 2019 and has seven horses in training explained: "He's my first winner as a full licence holder. I wouldn't ordinarily run him in a seller but because it was here [at Leicester] and it was good prize-money I thought I could give it a go."

Turning Gold: bought back by Bevis [on phone] in the post-race auction

The eight-year-old was bought back for £8,500 by Bevis in the post-race auction after making it three from three at the East Midlands track.

Buckley ban

Rider Tom Buckley was handed a 12-day ban in unusual circumstances after he took the wrong course in the 2m4½f handicap hurdle when holding a two-length lead.

Buckley was aboard the Nigel Hawke-trained Sindabella when he rode on the wrong side of the marker and the rail when turning into the home straight on the final circuit.

Buckley, who had led for much of the contest, explained to the stewards afterwards that he had been riding with his head down and pulled up his mount after realising his mistake.

Winning Woods

Kielan Woods helped Gardener go one better than his stable debut for Alex Hales at the track earlier this month when landing the opening novice hurdle.

Woods bookended the card with success aboard the David Jeffreys-trained Gerolamo Cardano to seal a 24-1 double.

Results, replays and analysis

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Conditional jockey Tom Buckley banned for 12 days for taking wrong course

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