CHIPPING Norton trainer Charlie Longsdon made a terrific start to his winter campaign with a 29-1 across-the-card treble at Uttoxeter and Plumpton on Sunday.
Cooper’s Friend (5-4 fav) set the ball rolling by making all the running under Daryl Jacob to land a two-and-a-half-mile maiden hurdle at Uttoxeter by a length and a quarter from Monbeg Gold.
Twenty minutes later, Noel Fehily sat tight as Argot (2-1 fav) survived a last-flight blunder to hold off Mountain Fighter by half a length in a novices’ hurdle over an extended two miles and a furlong at Plumpton.
Kilfinichen Bay (7-2 jt fav) completed the treble by making it an incredible eight wins from his last nine starts when clinging on by a nose from Princeton Royale under Richard Johnson to take a handicap hurdle over three miles and a furlong at the Sussex track.
The seven-year-old’s winning streak has seen him rise a remarkable 52lb in the handicap.
Longsdon said: “I have never had a horse like him and doubt that I ever will. He will now be stepped up in class and could go to Cheltenham next month for a Pertemps Qualifier.”
Leafield trainer Mark Rimell was also among the winners when his admirable mare Spiraea quickened up in good style for Graham Lee to land a six-furlong fillies’ handicap at Pontefract by two and three-quarter lengths.
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