Thursday, 10 November 2011
Exeter Review...well done Emma!
Andover trainer Emma Lavelle stole the show at Exeter with a treble, the first of her career.
Lavelle won both divisions of the racinglottery.co.uk Novices' Hurdle with Gullinbursti and Highland Lodge, while Easter Meteor won the Sun Inn Buckfastleigh Beginners' Chase.
Gullinbursti (3-1) travelled supremely well throughout and the Cork bumper winner looks a nice prospect having beaten horses from the Paul Nicholls and Philip Hobbs yards in the process.
Lavelle said: "He had a bit of education in Ireland and he's just a nice stamp of a horse. He's very straightforward, a little bit green with his jumping at times but basically very good. He's definitely one for the future. We know he'll jump a fence, he's got plenty of ability and he's one to look forward to."
Lavelle and jockey Jack Doyle were back in the winner's enclosure when Highland Lodge (7-2) cruised home, and Doyle told ATR: "I'd been filling him up after jumping the last down the back so I knew that I had loads of horse left. He was only just doing enough in front."
Easter Meteor (7-4) had shown promising form in novice hurdles but always had the look of a chaser and was foot-perfect. His sister Easter Legend won the mares' final at Newbury last March.
"He was so professional today," said Lavelle. "In fairness Barry (Fenton, former jockey and Lavelle's partner) has been schooling him at home and he deserves credit.
"He said I should have no worries dropping him in trip as he was so quick through the air. His jumping was great today. Jack said he lost a little concentration when he was out on his own down the back when he got in a bit tight to a couple, but he was very good."
Champion trainer Nicholls continues to make waves with the horses sent to him by owner Graham Wylie, and The Knoxs was the latest to win in the Pertemps Qualifier for Daryl Jacob.
Nicholls said: "He's obviously got a huge engine and seeing him do that, you never know we might have a bit more fun over hurdles with him, but not necessarily in handicaps after today."