'We're ending on a high' - Cubswin puts Neil King in the money again

Saturday: Haydock

Cubswin scooped a second victory at the valuable Challenger Series Final fixture to continue trainer Neil King's flying finish to the season.

Under an enterprising ride by Jack Quinlan, the eight-year-old top weight made all in the £50,000 2m3f mares' handicap hurdle to follow up her win in the two-mile handicap hurdle final on this card three years ago.

The surprise 28-1 winner had been off since picking up an injury at Ludlow in October and had other setbacks at home to overcome.

"She ran really well at Ludlow and just knocked herself and we gave her time off," said King. "She's been difficult to train at home recently as she suffers badly from set-fast and takes an awful lot of training.

"Although I was itching to run her, I hadn't seen the real her at home and then she worked really well on her last two pieces of work. It was a great performance, she's a gutsy mare and you might see her on the Flat over the summer."

The Wiltshire trainer celebrated another big Saturday success in the north west after Lookaway, who also returned at 28-1, won the Grade 2 bumper at Aintree on Grand National day.

"The yard has hit a bit of form with Lookaway winning at Aintree and Malina Jamila fourth in the mares' bumper there as well," added King. "Lookaway is full of himself and is a tremendously exciting horse for us. We've had a bit of a quiet winter and are down on numbers due to Covid, but we're ending on a high."

Double strike by O'Neill team

Jonjo O'Neill gained a fair chunk of the attractive prize-money on offer when favourites Zabeel Champion and An Tailliur combined to provide the trainer with a 14-1 double.

O'Neill's son Jonjo Jr rode both winners, starting with making the most of the plum spare ride on Zabeel Champion in the 1m7½f handicap hurdle.

Zabeel Champion (far side) is challenged by Castel GandolfoCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Headed by Castel Gandolfo after the final flight, the ex-Flat performer battled back to get up by half a length in the colours of Martin Tedham, whose retained rider Nick Scholfield suffered fractured ribs in a fall at Cheltenham on Wednesday.

"Nick unfortunately got injured in the week and I know from home he's a nice spare to get. I'm delighted for Martin and the owners and it's nice to get a big win for them," said the winning jockey.

"I was always holding a little bit and had one last go and he was very tough to be fair to him."

The Pat Hickey-owned An Tailliur had not run since chasing home subsequent Cheltenham Festival winner Marie's Rock at Kempton on Boxing Day and was made to work for his win in the 3m½f handicap hurdle, having travelled strongly into contention.

Trainer Jonjo O'Neill said: "He's a great little horse who keeps on improving and likes good ground, which is key to him. He had a good few races so we had to give him a bit of a break and you could see he needed it but he hung on. He'll go through the summer, the owner is from Galway and we'll see what's there in the summer."

Moore taken to hospital

Josh Moore, who missed a large part of the season after sustaining a serious back injury in October, was taken to hospital following a heavy fall on Gleno in the 3m1½f veterans' handicap chase.

Clerk of the course Kirkland Tellwright said: "He's going to hospital in Aintree with a suspected leg injury."

Gleno was reported to be fine following the fall at the sixth fence, in a race won by Light Flicker.

Results, replays and analysis

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