Nicky Henderson got an early verdict on Dan Skelton on the eve of the Fighting Fifth as the well-backed Act Of Innocence accelerated sharply on his hurdles debut against Sinnatra at Newbury.
The five-year-old, owned by Gordon and Su Hall, was sent from 11-10 favorite for the opening Play Coral “Racing-Super-Series” ‘National Hunt’ Maiden Hurdle and traveled smartly in the hands of Nico de Boinville before showing an extra gear to get home two and three-quarter lengths clear.
Act Of Innocence may have been jumping hurdles for the first time, but had already seen Newbury taking part in a morning gallop along Constitution Hill.
It was Henderson’s seventh victory in the race since 2015 and having used it to unleash the likes of Buveur D’Air and Jonbon in that time, he was pleased to improve his record.
Henderson said: “You have to be very pleased and he traveled well and jumped well from what I could see.
“It was interesting to see him upend Sinnatra and he has sped up quite a bit too. He is currently going two miles and I suspect we would stay there but he could go further if we wanted to.
“We come here (to this race) with a lot of what have turned out to be good rookies and it was an obvious race for him. He is very nice.
“He came here the same day Constitution Hill came, so we could hardly hide him and I hope he has a great future.
“I’m not sure about the short term, but one day he will be out hunting and he’s a sweet, big boy with a great temperament and attitude, and hopefully someone to look forward to.
“You wouldn’t mind letting him do one more little race for education before getting into anything deeper, but you’d like to think that at some point he might be able to run (in better company).”
Henderson’s former lieutenant Ben Pauling looks to have a real winner on his hands after Mambonumberfive took his record over fences to two from two in the Coral Racing Club Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase.
The Adonis-winning juvenile has looked like a natural over the fences so far, but his handler expects even better things if he steps up both in the trip and in the rankings later in the season.
Pauling said of the 5-2 favourite: “It’s another step in the right direction and as soon as we crossed the line at Aintree we were arriving here.
“He wants slower ground or further and on soft ground this horse will be a lot better – he wins races he shouldn’t and he’s not the fastest horse in the world, just a good galloper and not a natural two mileer.
“His jumping was really good, he jumps over them like hurdles and he’s so quick and accurate, whereas at Aintree he was a bit cheeky and a bit big at a few points. It’s exciting.
“We will only go into a graduated company if we need to and at the moment it is all going very well, so I am very happy.”
Paul Nicholls also impressed as Twinjets (3-1) enjoyed a 10-length success in the “Join Coral Bet £10 Get £50” Handicap Chase after a recent win at Fontwell.
“He surprised us when he won at Fontwell as we thought he would need the run and the idea was to get a run under his belt and then come back here,” Nicholls explained.
“He wants to be fresh and certainly won’t be competing in the Gold Cup in December, but when I go back they have a similar race at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day.”
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