Balder Succes destined for big things after comfortable Warwick success

With Claret Cloak a non-runner, just five went to post for the £11,000 Anixter’s Partner Day Novices’ Chase with Balder Succes a red-hot 8-15 favourite to make it two wins over fences.

He had fallen when in command at Cheltenham last time out, but put in an immaculate round of jumping here to come right away from Baby Mix, who made a bad mistake at the open ditch down the far side.

The win completed a quick double for jockey Robert Thornton and trainer Alan King after the success of Herod The Great in the earlier juvenile novices hurdle.

Keel Haul was the big fancy in the opening Follow Us On Twitter @WarwickRaces Handicap Hurdle, being backed from 11-2 to 4-1 favourite, but his supporters could not have been confident as he was well off the early pace set by Court In Session and Pret A Thou.

There looked to be only three in contention turning for home, but Shady Lane made a mistake at the second last and Watt Broderick slipped up on landing at the final flight with the race seemingly at his mercy.

That left Shady Lane in front, but she was caught close home by the flying finish of Keel Haul, who won a shade cosily in the end for second-season trainer Henry Oliver.

Willoughby Hedge was well backed to bring up a treble for Alan King in the long-distance racinguk.com Novices’ Hurdle. Held up by Wayne Hutchinson on the inside, he powered into the lead coming out of the back straight and held the determined challenge of Patsys Castle over the last two flights.

Rockchasebullet and Paddy Brennan set out to make all the running in the Stride Insurance Group Handicap Chase and they were still at the head of affairs going over the penultimate fence.

Just when it looked as if the chasing pack would close the gap, Rockchasebullet found another gear, scooting away to a ten-length win over The Potting Shed, who just got the better of Ballywatt for second place.

At the end of three-and-a-quarter miles of jumping, there was less than a length between Guess Again, who was well ridden by Kieron Edgar, and Whistling Senator in the Racing UK Conditional Jockeys Chase and in the concluding flat race, Kayfleur and Makadamia came out of the darkness to produce the best finish of the afternoon with just a head separating them at the line.b