Shoot First wins the Betfair Stayers’ Handicap Hurdle at Haydock Park

Shoot First wins the Betfair Stayers’ Handicap Hurdle at Haydock Park

Charles Byrnes's eight-year-old scores on Merseyside while Evan Williams' Dr TJ Eckleberg and Trelawne also triumphed at Haydock

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Student and jockey Alex Harvey landed his biggest career success in Britain as he partnered Shoot First (22-1) to plough through the mud and win the Betfair Stayers’ Handicap Hurdle at Haydock Park on Saturday afternoon.

The 21-year-old Irish rider, who is also in his final year at university studying business, brought the Charles Byrnes-trained eight-year-old to land the three-mile contest at Haydock. Shoot First – who had won at Cheltenham in October 2022 – had been off the track for 735 days before his return to action when fifth in a 2m6f hurdle contest at Galway last month. He built on that return to come through an attritional contest in testing conditions to score two-and-three-quarters-of-a-length from 11-4 favourite One Big Bang with long-time leader Phantomofthepoints (22-1) a further length-and-three-quarters back in third.

Winning jockey Harvey made another successful trip to Britain and believes Shoot First could return for the Cheltenham Festival in March. He said: "Obviously the horse came on for the run the last time after a two-year break . He jumped and travelled there great. He is still a big raw baby and he pricked his ears when he hit the front. So I think stepping up in grade he is going to be even better. He is an exciting horse and he will jump a fence in the future. It was a proper test and it was his first time on soft ground and he relished it. So he is a typical Westerner. It's great. Charles is very good at placing his horses so wherever he picks you could see him in March (the Cheltenham Festival). He has won there so he is exciting.

"I have had a couple of winners in Kelso for John McConnell, another winner in Kelso for John this year. I make the odd trip over and it's nice when it all works out today. It is the biggest winner of my career anyway, across the pond. It is brilliant. I am based with John McConnell six days a week and I ride work around and I'm in my final year at University studying business."

Dr TJ Eckleberg (14-1) landed a battling victory in the softening conditions at Haydock in the Bet At Your Best With Betfair Handicap Chase. Under Conor Ring, the Evan Williams-trained six-year-old gelded son of Lawman was well tried over fences last season, winning two of his 14 starts. And having been third on his seasonal return at Newton Abbot he was back in the winner's enclosure at Haydock.

The Lucinda Russell-trained Netywell (11-2) and Dr DJ Eckleberg cut out much of the early running in the two-mile contest. But Dan Skelton's 11-8 favourite Home Free was brought through to lead by Harry Skelton before the turn for home. But he make a mistake two out and faded badly. But Dr TJ Eckleberg got his second wind and came back in front to lead. Jumping the final two fences well, he went clear and held off the late challenge of General Medrano (4-1) by a length-and-a-quarter with Netywell staying on for third a further eight-and-a-half lengths adrift. Home Free was a further 12 lengths back in fourth.

Winning jockey Ring said: "He has been a great horse for us. We ran him over fences and he won his two races but he also ran very well in some good handicap chases. He picked up an awful lot of prizemoney last year. He deserved to get his head back in front. He is a joy of a horse to have. He loves that soft ground and my plan was to drop him in a bit but he was just taking me (forward). There is hopefully plenty more to come from him."

Trelawne (7-2) relished the soft ground to return to winning ways in the Betfair Exchange Graduation Chase. Kim Bailey's eight-year-old, under Tom Bellamy, got the better of a battle with 11-8 favourite Iroko – from the Malpas stable of Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero – to score by half-a-length.

The talented but quirky eight-year-old won on his chasing debut at Carlisle last year, but despite running well failed to score again and fell at the second fence as his stable-mate Chianti Classico went on to land the Ultima Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival in March. But he again started his season with a victory in the testing conditions he enjoys.

The returning Hillcrest – who had been off the track for 981 days – and Trelawne cut out much of the early the running, while jockey Jonjo O'Neill Junior had favourite Iroko settled at the back of the six runners on the inner. Trelawne moved on as Hillcrest began to drop back coming to the home turn and he had a sizeable advantage jumping the last. It was only the patiently-ridden Iroko who managed to close the gap and after a real battle to the line, Trelawne held on well by half-a-length.

Trelawne was introduced at 50-1 with Paddy Power for the Randox Grand National but his trainer is looking at the Grade Two Cotswold Chase at Cheltenham in January for his next run. Hoping to get more experience into him before pitching him into a race like the Grand National.

A delighted Bailey said: "I was delighted with him, we've been praying for the rain for a long time. Yes we've had our issues, but he's a very talented individual and he was a grown up horse today. He's always had the talent and I just think he's that year older. That fall at Cheltenham frightened him and he was a very sore horse for a long time afterwards, so we gave him a long time to get over it and I just feel he's come back a different horse from the summer. Quirky horse make a big difference to you. He's worked well and done everything right. He went to Cheltenham with a great chance, I hated having two runners in the race and when this horse fell I'm afraid I didn't see the other horse do a whole circuit as I was watching him. I love him."

On future plans, Bailey added: "This horse has to have soft ground and there's a big race in him somewhere along the way. I think the Cotswold Chase (at Cheltenham in January) would suit him really well, but we've got a long way to go yet. He was only rated 144 today, the handicapper will have a few words to say after today, but he's a progressive horse. He's got a few quirks, but that's why he's a good horse."

Iroko – owned by JP McManus – won on his chasing debut at this time last year at Warwick. Then he was fifth behind Grey Dawning at the Cheltenham Festival and second to another McManus-owned novice, Gavin Cromwell’s Inothewayurthinkin, in the Grade One Mildmay Novices’ Chase at the Randox Grand National Festival at Aintree the following month. But dropped back down in grade he made a pleasing comeback to finish a close second in the extended 2m5f contest.

His connections are also looking at the Grade Two Cotswold Chase at Cheltenham in January.

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