Shropshire Star

Best pictures as Agincourt Reef triumphs at Ludlow Racecourse

[gallery] Agincourt Reef gave the Teal family good reason to celebrate when running out a ready winner of the Breedon Aggregates Handicap Hurdle at Ludlow.

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Roger Teal bought the seven-year-old for £3,000 out of Gary Moore's stable at Ascot's Tattersalls Sales earlier this month to give his son Harry more experience in the saddle – and it paid dividends.

Runner-up at Southwell on his debut for the Hungerford owner-trainer two weeks ago, Agincourt Reef (17-2) wasted no more time as he won in good style.

The conditional rider set sail for home after the fourth-last flight and soon had his rivals in a spin as he struck by six lengths from Mahlers Star for the jockey's third National Hunt success in the saddle.

"I'm very proud. I bought this horse to give Harry his chance and he gave him a cracking ride," said Teal snr.

"He's normally quite a lazy horse, but he travelled so well.

"I saw Harry and thought he'd gone too soon, but then I saw the horse was loving it.

He made a little mistake at the last, but saw it out well.

"He's one you can run quite quickly. I'll see what he's like on Tuesday and make a plan from there."

Ultimatum Du Roy (11-1) showed much-improved form on his second outing following a seven-month absence with a smooth success in the Guy Thomas Birthday Handicap Chase.

Having blown away the cobwebs at Uttoxeter a few weeks ago, the Alex Hales-trained eight-year-old stripped much fitter as he held Muckle Roe by two and a half lengths.

Kerry Lee's Gino Trail (5-2) disposed of his two rivals with little fuss to take the feature GC Richards Ltd Novices' Limited Handicap Chase by 22 lengths from the only other finisher, Lofgren.

Robert Hawker steered the Jeremy Scott-trained That's Gonna Sting (9-2) to a first success at the 10th attempt in the Oyster Communications Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle.

Coillte Lass justified prohibitive odds of 1-3 in facile fashion as Paul Nicholls' five-year-old trounced sole rival Alizee Javilex by 86 lengths under 5lb claimer Jack Sherwood in the Racing UK HD On Sky 432 Mares' 'National Hunt' Novices' Hurdle.

Ben Pauling's Way Back Then (13-8 favourite) stuck on gamely to outpoint Chez Castel Mail in the concluding bumper under Tom Cannon.

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