Tom Lacey's Absolute Steel caused a seismic upset, defying odds of 200-1 at Exeter in the Trustatrader Apply Today British Studs EBF "National Hunt" Novices' Hurdle and dealt a significant blow to Lowry's Bar, previously undefeated. Jockey Stan Sheppard took the reins of the five-year-old, who had languished at a similar price during his hurdling debut at Chepstow. With Lowry's Bar aiming for his fifth consecutive triumph as the overwhelming favourite, it seemed only a matter of time before he would overtake the long-time leader. However, the testing conditions posed a formidable challenge, hindering his progress.
Despite displaying a few idiosyncrasies at the hurdles, Absolute Steel undeniably possesses a potent engine. When the favourite finally caught up after the final hurdle, Absolute Steel momentarily eased off before rallying again to secure victory by a length and a half. Reflecting on the race, Sheppard shared his thoughts with the journalists, stating that he didn't believe Absolute Steel's previous performance at Chepstow was as poor as it seemed. Sheppard also noted that his horse's last-place finish in a bumper race at Market Rasen was not a significant setback, as the pace was slow, and Absolute Steel maintained a consistent speed throughout. While acknowledging his surprise at the outcome, Sheppard expressed that he wasn't entirely taken aback.
In the Trustatrader Approved And Reviewed Trades People Novices' Chase, only three contenders participated, but those who adhered to the age-old adage of backing the underdog reaped the rewards when Crebilly surged forward with a late charge. The betting odds suggested a tight competition between Paul Nicholls' Grade One-winning novice hurdler Tahmuras and Kim Bailey's Trelawne, who sported cheekpieces following a wayward second-place finish at Wetherby in the Grade Two Towton.
Throughout the race, Tahmuras and Trelawne took the lead, with jockey Jonjo O'Neill Jr. content to follow, seeking to rectify his mount's jumping issues after a display marred by errors at Cheltenham in the previous outing. Although Trelawne was the first to come under pressure, he valiantly responded to jockey David Bass's urging. Meanwhile, Tahmuras appeared to have secured victory as he leapt into a clear lead at the final hurdle, only to deviate to the left. Exploiting this opening, Crebilly capitalised on the opportunity and triumphed at odds of 5-2.
In the Trustatrader Open Maiden National Hunt Flat Race, trainer Paul Nicholls introduced a promising prospect named Teeshan. The five-year-old had already demonstrated his prowess by winning his sole point-to-point race in Ireland by an astounding 41 lengths. Teeshan made an impressive debut under rules, donning the striking pink and blue colours of owner Johnny de la Hey.
Jockey Harry Cobden expertly navigated the race, always appearing at ease aboard the 10-11 favourite, and ultimately claimed victory by a commanding seven lengths. Teeshan's performance garnered attention, resulting in his odds for the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham being slashed from 14-1 to 6-1 on Betfair. Additionally, Cobden's win propelled him to the same level as jockey Sean Bowen in the title race, with both riders boasting an impressive tally of 121 winners for the season.