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Vic Venturi too strong in closing stages of Becher Chase.

After Irish Raptor and Idol Talk fell at the second fence of today's Becher Chase at Aintree, Scottish Grand National winner Hello Bud took the leadand jumped from fence to fence, and up to two from home he looked a certain winner. But when Keenan's Future came to challenge just after the second last, possibly last weeks race at Cheltenham caught up with Hello Bud, and he began to issue distress signals. Keenan's Future's moment of glory was also short lived, for top weight Vic Venturi, who had raced in snatches throughout today's three and a quarter mile contest, eventually showd he had an extra gear, and after the last he galloped on strongley to provide Irish trainer Dessie Hughes with his second successive win in the Becher Chase.

Keenan's Future ran on at one pace to take second place, with Royal Rosa putting in a late dash to deny Hello Bud third position.

Beroni a worthy victor in Troytown Chase.

Paul Townend aboard the Willie Mullins trained Beroni ran out as the worthy winners of today's Troytown Chase at Navan, while the much touted Treacle and Operation Houdini failed to figure.

Also on today's Navan card, Willie Mullins had further delight wehn his highly regarded novice chaser Sports Line led from start to finish in his chasing debut, with bookmakers immediately promoting him into the higher echelons of the betting for next March's Arkle Trophy at the Cheltenham Festival.

Tazbar secures initial victory over fences.

Trainer Keith Reveley admitted he was relieved his former smart hurdler Tazbar secured an initial victory over the larger obstacles in his chasing debut over three miles at Musselburgh this afternoon. Connections will now see how Tazbar comes out of the race before they decide where he will go next.

Hurl dominates the Judge in Monksfield clash.

Mouse Morris's Hurl led from start to finish in today's Monksfield Novice Hurdle at Navan, but strongly

supported race favourite Judge Roy Bean did himself no favours when severely rapping the second last

flight when in a good position to lay down his challenge. Hurl eventually ran out a length and a half clear of Quietly Fancied with Judge Roy BVean a further head back in third.

Dev defies trip and ground.

Stepped up to two and a half miles from his usual two mile comfort zone on ground he disliked, the John

Quinlan trained Dev put in the performance of his life to land today's Grand Sefton Handicap Chase over the Grand National fences at Aintree.

Accompanied by Frankie Fig at the head of affairs, Dev jumped from fence to fence, and even when his companion fell at the fifth last it did not disturb Dev's rhythm. Even when Pak Jack came to challenge

after the last, Jamie Moore found his mount had more to offer, and he stayed on strongly to prevail by a length and a half, with Pak Jack having to settle for the runners up spot.

Over-reach could delay Sitting Tenant return.

Having purchased last year's Aintree bumper winner Sitting Tenant during the summer, owner Graham Wiley was delighted to watch his new acquisition complete an all the way win in his initial hurdle race at this afternoon's Aintree meeting. But connections will not be so happy to learn the four-year-old over-stretched himself during the race, and his return to action could now be delayed until next year.

Henderson favouring Relkeel option for Zaynar.

Following his emphatic victory in Saturday's Coral Hurdle at Ascot, trainer Nicky Henderson is keen not to over commit Zaynar in the early part of the national hunt season,

"He is still a young inexperienced horse, and I think it would be folly to give him too many difficult tasks at this stage of his career, and with that in mind, I guess the Relkeel Hurdle, which is for second year novices, would be the ideal option for Zaynar's next outing."

Nicholls happy and concerned at the same time.

In an interview this morning, Paul Nicholls indicated he was very happy with the way Kauto Star had come out of yesterday's tough encounter with Imperial Commander in the Betfair Chase at Haydock Park, and the Ditcheat based trainer thinks Kauto Star needed yesterday's race, and should now go to Kempton Park on Boxing Day in the right kind of condition to ensure a stout defence of his King George VI Chase crown.

However, Nicholls did indicate he thought Denman had a tough task on his plate to win Saturday's Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup with the added burden of top weight, and the trainer was also concerned during the early part of the season all of his horses seemed to need at least one run to get themselves into top gear, and this latter point might also count against Denman next Saturday.

Jack heading to Sandown Park.

Former smart hurdler Crack Away Jack has already scored a good win at Sandown Park in his first novice chase earlier this season, so it probably comes as no suprise to learn, connections intend to send him back to the Esher track for the Henry VII Chase early in December.

A win in this much higher grade novice event will almost certainly see Crack Away Jack promoted in the market for the Cheltenham Festival novice chases, but a concern would seem to be that he prefers to reserve his best performances for right handed tracks.

Sacred Kingdom well beaten in Hong Kong Trial.

Rated as one of the two top sprinters in the world at present, the well regarded Sacred Kingdom had no answers to the final burst of Happy Zero in today's Cathay Pacific Sprint Trial at Sha Tin, with the

favourite going down by an increasing two lengths as the leading two passed the winning line.

Sahpresa grabs third place in Japanese Grade One.

Following on from her fine win at Newmarket in October, Olivier Pesslier brought Sahpresa with a late run to grab third place in today's Champion Mile in Japan. But the french filly had no answers to eight-year-old locally trained Company, who after adding today's Grade One contest to his impressive tally, is now to be retired to stud.

The Mick Channon trained Eva's Request tired in the closing stages of today's race, and could only finish tenth.

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