Sport

Agistment on track

AGISTMENT, beaten just once during his career when sixth in the Cheltenham Festival Bumper last March, is on course for better…

Sat Dec 21 1996 - 00:00

AGISTMENT, beaten just once during his career when sixth in the Cheltenham Festival Bumper last March, is on course for better luck at next year's National Hunt Festival judged by his victory in the EBF National Hunt Novices' Hurdle at Uttoxeter yesterday.

Despite his impressive credentials, the five year old was sent off the 5 to 2 second favourite for the last as David Nicholson saddled the 4 to 6 market leader Mighty Moss, third in the Festival Bumper.

Having been sent to the front by Richard Dunwoody approaching the fourth from home, Agistment, who runs in the colours of the Marquesa de Moratalla, looked set for silver when headed by Mighty Moss at the penultimate flight.

However, as Dunwoody and Mighty Moss's rider Fred Hutsby, riding for his father Ken, rolled up their sleeves for a scrap on the run in, it was the FitzGerald runner who found the deeper reserves for a half length win.

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Trainer Jimmy FitzGerald explained that Agistment gives few clues as to his abilities on the Malton gallops. "He's the worst horse I have got at home and the best horse I have on the race course," he said. "If you want to sell something, you can work it with him, he's such a lazy horse he's blowing his head off now.

"He threw a splint before the Cheltenham Bumper and Richard said he blew up where the second last would be. But he's a fine, big horse, and that is a very good horse, the second."

Agistment's next assignment may be the Challow Hurdle at Newbury today week.

Dunwoody had earlier been successful aboard Tejano Gold.

. Former champion jockey Peter Scudamore gave his star pupil David Walsh a glowing reference after Mahler battled to victory in the Cloves Conditional Jockeys' Novices' Handicap Hurdle, yesterday.

Walsh had to push the gelding along to beat Colwall by two and a half lengths and Scudamore declared afterwards. "The jockey made all the difference he's very, very good."

Based with winning trainer Nigel Twiston Davies, the youngster, who lost his right to claim last Monday is being kept busy with many top trainers, including Martin Pipe, snapping up his services.

"I've ridden 18 winners this season and I'm leading the conditional jockeys' table and as long as I stay injury free, I'm going all out to win the title," said Walsh.