HORSE RACING: The Cheltenham Festival aspirations of classy Flat performer Xtra were left in tatters at Taunton yesterday when the Jim Old-trained five-year-old could only finish third on his jumping debut in the second division of the Hanson Aggregates Novices' Hurdle.
Formerly handled by Luca Cumani, the son of Sadler's Wells, who contested Group races on the Flat, jumped well enough but was found wanting up the home straight and was eventually beaten just over 10 lengths by easy winner Kalca Mome.
Old said afterwards: "We are obviously disappointed with that but I can make no excuses as there is no point. The ground might have been a bit soft for him but he does not want it fast either.
"I have to say it wasn't the start of a star we had hoped for when coming here but speed doesn't come into it on this ground so we'll have to wait and see."
One grain of comfort for Old and his main patron Wally Sturt, in whose colours Xtra runs, is that their Champion Hurdler, Collier Bay was beaten on his first start hurdling before going on to land the big race.
The first division of the contest went to Desert Air, trained by Martin Pipe and ridden by Tony McCoy, who made all the running to score by three quarters of a length from Thesis.
Paul Nicholls saddled Satshoon and Howdydoody in the Hanson Premix Novices' Hurdle with the former carrying plenty of stable confidence with Ruby Walsh in the saddle.
But it was the lesser fancied Howdydoody, partnered by Bobby McNally who came good when staying on strongly to defy El Hombre Del Rio by a length with Satshoon well beaten back in fourth spot.
However, Nicholls and Walsh teamed up to better effect in the concluding P.A.S Sound & Communications National Hunt Flat race after Onwardsandupwards finished strongly to hold off Ramirez by a neck.
Venetia Williams sent out Indalo to take the Tote Placepot Chase in the hands of Brian Crowley. The gelding jumped to the front at the ninth before staying on too strongly for Hidden Valley to collect in the colours of the ROA Arkle Partnership.
Gloucester trainer Julian Smith ended a barren spell stretching back over a year when Glen Warrior came to his rescue in the Spiller and Webber Handicap Hurdle. Warren Marston drove the seven-year-old home to win by a length and three quarters.
Robert Alner admitted surprise after No Visibility made a winning debut over fences in the Hanson Mortar novices chase as the gelding had shown little when hurdling.
