Carlito's way to Cheltenham

Published on Sunday 7 February 2010 23:21

MUSSELBURGH billed its richest ever jumps meeting as a Cheltenham Trials Day, and racegoers yesterday may well have witnessed a future Festival winner as Carlito Brigante turned in an impressive performance in John Smith's Scottish Triumph Hurdle.

Gordon Elliott's runner is now 10-1 from 12s with William Hill for the JCB Triumph Hurdle following this accomplished victory.

The Irish raider was a winner at Musselburgh in November before going on to Grade Two glory at Leopardstown on Boxing Day.

Sent off the evens favourite, Carlito Brigante made his move two out for Jason Maguire and after kicking on at the last, the result was never in doubt. He pulled six lengths clear of Ultimate at the line with Orsippus a further nine lengths back in third.

"He will definitely go for the Triumph now and Cheltenham will suit him a lot better as Musselburgh is a bit tight for him. He is a very good horse," said Elliott.

Nicky Henderson's decision to mount a six-horse raid at Musselburgh reaped an immediate dividend when Candy Creek won the opening Scottish Racing Novices' Hurdle in the hands of Barry Geraghty. Eradicate (9-2) later completed a double for Henderson and Geraghty in the John Smith's Scottish County Handicap Hurdle.

The six-year-old shrugged off a 290-day absence in style, while favourite and top weight Red Moloney sadly took a fatal fall at the second flight.

Bookmakers were all smiles when 25-1 chance Leith Walk gave amateur rider Calum Whillans his first success in the handicap hurdle. Leith Walk is trained by Whillans' father Donald, who said: "It is a pity the mare's owner, David McComb, is not here. He has been waiting for another winner for eight years but he has been in hospital this week."

Whillans jnr, who was unseated from Leith Walk after the line, added: "I have just turned 21 and it is very special to have my first winner."

&#149 Paul Nolan's Joncol provided jockey Alain Cawley with the biggest success of his career in the Hennessy Gold Cup at Leopardstown, while Dunguib survived a sloppy round of jumping to take the Deloitte Novice Hurdle.