Rubaud highlights fantastic five-timer for Nicholls

Rubaud produced a brave front-running display to retain his BetMGM Elite Hurdle title and help Paul Nicholls post a fabulous five-timer at Wincanton.

The six-year-old got the better of a battle with Aspire Tower at the head of affairs but Brentford Hope loomed up in ominous fashion between the final two flights.

However, Rubaud jumped the last much more fluently and never looked back, coming home a length and a quarter in front as the 11-10 favourite under Harry Cobden.

Nicholls, who had already struck with Sorceleur, Beau Balko and Larchmont Lass in the first three races on the card and took the closing bumper with Swingin Safari, said: “He is a fantastic horse and he will go chasing now.

“He will not beat the likes of Constitution Hill, and we proved that last season. He is a great Grade Two horse and he will be a fantastic chaser, as he is a brilliant jumper and he is a big, scopey horse. That is his future now.

“I think he beat two good horses there that are rated higher than him and he has given them 6lb. But he is just a class horse. He just keeps galloping and that is the great thing about him.

“He will go to Kempton Park for the Wayward Lad Novices’ Chase over Christmas. That might be his first port of call, as I don’t want to over do it.”

Cobden, who rode a four-timer of his own, added: “I love riding this horse, he’s so slick over his hurdles. When he was younger, he was very keen, but he just gives himself a chance now and he’s an absolute pleasure to ride.”

Sorceleur (2-9) claimed the BetMGM EBF ‘National Hunt’ Novices’ Hurdle less than 24 hours after a victory at Exeter.

Nicholls said: “He is a hardy horse that eats well. He came out this morning like he hadn’t been anywhere yesterday. He ate all his grub last night and drank plenty of water. It was never in doubt.

“I think I’ve done it five or six times in my career (run a horse on consecutive days) and they have all won. You have just got to have the right horse.”

Following Swingin Safari’s success, the 14-times champion trainer added: “It is nice to have five winners, and we have done it before on this day. We are flying along now.”

Boombawn timed his late charge just right when getting up close home in the Grade Two Boodles Rising Stars Novices’ Chase.

Soul Icon made a brave attempt to make all and had seen off market leaders Insurrection and Handstands before the latter fell three out.

However, Harry Skelton managed to keep Boombawn in contention and he found just that little bit more after the last to score by a neck at 8-1.

Winning trainer Dan Skelton said: “I’m stopping short of calling it top-class form, but for horses that like that ground, it has got to be a good race.

“Fair play to the second as he has worn his heart on his sleeve and jumped brilliantly, and he didn’t really deserve to get caught. If I’m in second I’d feel gutted, but some days you win and some days you don’t and Boombawn just had a little bit left at the end.

“Going to the last I thought we had him. Harry just saved a bit as he got that inner rail. I’m just chuffed to bits for him.

“He wants a good gap between his races and if the ground starts softening up, I’m not sure you will see him for a while.

“The Pendil (Novices’ Chase at Kempton) would be an obvious starting point and we could get him back at the end of February if the ground is acceptable.

“He can’t have a bad season full stop, as he has just won a £75,000 race.”