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“His jumping was electric” - Djelo dominant in Noel Novices’ Chase

3 minute read

Djelo took his record to a perfect three from three over fences with a dominant front running display in the Grade 2 Noel Novices’ Chase at Ascot on Friday.

DJELO winning the Howden Noel Novices' Chase at Ascot in England.
DJELO winning the Howden Noel Novices' Chase at Ascot in England. Picture: Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images

Venetia Williams' son of Montmartre won twice over hurdles but has taken his form to a new level since switching to the larger obstacles and looks like a potential chaser heading right to the very top.

A 7lb rise for winning on his chasing debut at Aintree in November proved no issue as he readily accounted for Persian Time, who landed the Novices' Handicap Chase earlier on the card, off a mark of 135 at Newbury, a performance that saw Venetia Williams pitch her improving five-year-old into Grade 2 company.

It proved a wise move by the Herefordshire -based trainer as Djelo ran out a commanding all-the-way sixth-length winner over his four rivals at the Berkshire venue.

Charlie Deutsch made his intentions clear from the outset and the pair soon found themselves with a clear advantage after the first few flights with it soon becoming apparent, that he would take some catching with the five-year-old producing some extravagant leaps down the back straight.

The gap closed up a touch as Deutsch steadied his mount into the second last, but he soon picked up again once asked, with the 6/5 market leader drawing nicely clear on his first outing over two and a half miles to beat a staying on Kandoo Kid.

"He travelled really well and jumped well. I didn't want to go any faster, but I didn't want to go any slower," said Deutsch on Sky Sports Racing.

"His jumping was electric. It was just the second last, we'd been long at quite a few and I thought I wouldn't chance it again, so I left him, and he's just run into it and then he's picked himself up again and jumped the last well."

"He would have learnt a bit today and it takes a bit of jumping this track, so I'm really pleased."

"He's a lovely horse and enjoys his racing. He's a hardy racing type."

Paddy Power quoted 20/1 about Djelo landing the Turners Novices' Chase run over two and a half miles at the Cheltenham Festival in March and Deutsch believes the trip to be ideal for him at this stage in his career.

"I'm happy with today's trip. The last day he was a little bit outpaced, and I was just having to squeeze him along probably half a mile from home whereas today was more in his comfort zone."

Elsewhere on the card, Let It Rain proved she was up to the task of taking on the boys when gaining some valuable black-type in the Listed Thames Materials Open National Hunt Flat Race.

The Dan Skelton-trained filly looked a classy prospect when making a wide-margin winning debut at Warwick last month but faced some fascinating unbeaten types in what looked like one of the hottest bumpers run this side of the Irish Sea at Ascot this afternoon.

The 8/1 chance was in receipt of 11lb from the runner-up Brechin Castle, who lost his unbeaten record on the back of a Listed success at Cheltenham last time but is clearly a filly with bundles of potential as she ran out a ready three and a quarter length winner under brother Harry.

Harry Skelton said: "She shows you everything you want to see, she's like a good woman and everyone needs one of those in their life!

"Bridget (Skelton, wife) has done a lot of work with her, and she always said there was something about her – she's got it all.

"It's early on in her career, she's definitely done everything we've asked. She's a long way from where we want to be, but she's going the right way.

"On paper there were a lot of good horses, lots of winners in there and she was getting the allowance, so it was probably a Might I run from the second with his penalty, but we're delighted with her."


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