Delight for trainer Bosley as Silver Prophet wins on his return

10:31am Thursday 29th November 2007

Lockeridge trainer Martin Bosley was on the mark at Plumpton on Sunday when his 25/1 charge Silver Prophet battled back from injury to win the totesportgames.com Handicap Hurdle.

The eight-year-old, which was given a good ride by 7lb claimer Kevin Tobin, had been off the course for 569 days.

Bosley said: He's been off with tendon trouble but we have given him plenty of time to recover and he won nicely.

He has come out of the race okay, a little stiff but he will have a few weeks off before we try again. I would love to win a chase with him as he has won on the flat and now over hurdles and he looks as though he could jump a fence.

Sean Curran was originally down for the ride but had to go elsewhere so we booked local jockey Wayne Hutchinson. Unfortunately he got injured on Saturday so young Kevin Tobin came in for the ride and did very well. We are all delighted.'' Newbury takes centre stage this weekend with the three day Hennessy Winter Festival meeting beginning tomorrow with the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup. It is run over three miles two furlongs with 21 fences to be jumped.

It is the richest race of its kind in Europe with a guaranteed prize fund of £150,000 and is the oldest established commercially sponsored race in Great Britain.

First run at Cheltenham in 1957, it transferred to Newbury three years later and since the inaugural running just two horses have won the race twice, Mandarin and the legendary Arkle.

Likely to start favourite is the Paul Nicholls trained Denman, twice a winner on the course last season and unbeaten over fences.

Set to carry top weight on his seasonal appearance Denman's owner, professional gambler Harry Findlay, believes his charge can defy the welter burden, as did the Nicky Henderson trained winner in 2005 Trabolgan.

A big danger to the favourite is the David Pipe trained Abragante, who missed the cut in the Paddy Power Gold Cup after easily winning the Badger Chase at Wincanton.

With regular jockey Timmy Murphy suspended and Tom Scudamore on the sidelines through injury, owner David Johnson has secured the services of leading Irish jockey Davy Russell whose style of riding could suit the horse.

Broad Hinton trainer Andy Turnell, who has won the race both as a trainer and jockey, runs Bible Lord and said: He needed his run at Bangor last time. The form of his defeat of the Paddy Power runner up Il Duce last season is looking good now. I know he will be 4lb out of the handicap , but we may never have this chance again.'' It would appear foolish to go against the Paul Nicholls superstar but the column's selection is for Abragante. He couldn't have won any easier at Wincanton, to give his new jockey a first Hennessy victory plus an each way interest on the locally trained Bible Lord.

Also on a star-studded card the top staying hurdlers will be out in force for the totesport.com Long Distance Hurdle at 2.05pm.

Last year's winner Inglis Drever bids to win the race again but will not have it all his own way against some tough rivals, including the Jonjo O'Niell-trained Black Jack Ketchum and the Barbary Castle-trained Blazing Bailey.

With stable jockey Robert Thornton required to go to Newcastle to ride Katchit and Wayne Hutchinson on the injured list, trainer Alan King has secured the services of Sam Thomas and the duo is this column's each way selection.

There is a seven-race card at Newcastle on saturday. The feature race is the Grade 1 Fighting Fifth Hurdle where Triumph Hurdle winner Katchit takes on older horses for the first time and the one he is likely to have to beat is the Irish-trained Al Eile, the mount of Tony Dobbin.

Towcester stages the other jumping card with all-weather fans catered for with a seven race card at Kempton and an evening meeting at Wolverhampton.