3 minute read
East India Dock bounded up the Cheltenham hill to make it two from two over hurdles in the Grade 2 JCB Triumph Trial Juvenile Hurdle.
James Owen's three-year-old, who was a smart dual winner on the flat for James Fanshawe, was sent off a well-backed 4/5 shot to keep his unbeaten hurdling record intact following a smooth debut victory over flights at Wetherby last month.
Those who took the fairly prohibited odds never had a moment of worry and after travelling strongly towards the front throughout the two-mile one-furlong Grade 2 prize, East India Dock kicked into an unassailable advantage entering the home straight before being allowed to saunter home for a visually impressive 18-length success under Sam Twiston-Davies.
Olly Murphy's Static stuck on best of the rest to fill the runner-up spot, but in all truth, he was in a different division to the Gredley-owned winner, who was cut to 10/1 (from 33s) by Paddy Power for the JCB Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham Festival in March.
Owen, who landed the prize last year with the Greatwood Hurdle-bound Burdett Road, said: "He's a lovely horse and he took to it well at Wincanton. I knew the staying track would suit as all he does is stay this horse, but he's got a lot of class so he's really exciting.
"I've no plan as to where to go next but all roads lead to the Triumph, he might just have one more run before then.
"It's amazing how the Gredley family are keeping these horses in training as they are very valuable in the overseas market.
"They want winners at Cheltenham, we did it last year with Burdett Road so now we just need to get this lad to the Festival now and hopefully we can have a bit more success.
"We've got quite a few this year so hopefully it gives us a few cracks at it."
On comparisons with Burdett Road and the prospect of the New course suiting East India Dock even better, Owen added: "He just relaxes more than Burdett Road did at this stage last year and I think the New course will suit this horse better.
"He's run twice over hurdles now and he hasn't made a mistake, so he'll probably have one more run and go straight to the Triumph Hurdle, that's how high I hold this horse."
He added: "We've got another horse at home who hasn't run over hurdles yet who was slightly higher-rated than this fella on the Flat we really like called Lavender Hill Mob. He'll be running in early December. He schools well too and likes soft ground whereas this fella likes better ground.
"This horse is just more straightforward than Burdett was, we know he's going to stay, we can ride him how we want to, and he's taken to it really well whereas it took Burdett time to brush his jumping up. Burdett is a better horse than him and we'll see tomorrow (Greatwood Hurdle) how much better."
