Act Of Innocence looks smart on first run for Henderson

Nicky Henderson gained an early verdict over Dan Skelton on the eve of the Fighting Fifth when the well-backed Act Of Innocence quickened up smartly on his hurdling debut to down Sinnatra at Newbury.

Sent off the 11-10 favourite for the opening Play Coral “Racing-Super-Series” ‘National Hunt’ Maiden Hurdle, the Gordon and Su Hall-owned five-year-old travelled smartly in the hands of Nico de Boinville before showing an extra gear to surge home two and three-quarter lengths clear.

Act Of Innocence may have been jumping hurdles for the first time, but had already had a sighter of Newbury having taken part in a gallops morning alongside Constitution Hill.

It was Henderson’s seventh win in the race since 2015 and having used it to unleash the likes of Buveur D’Air and Jonbon in that time, he was delighted to enhance his record.

Henderson said: “You have got to be very pleased and he’s travelled well and jumped well as far as I could see.

“It was interesting to see him go upsides Sinnatra and he’s quickened up nicely too. He’s a two-miler at the moment and I suspect we would stay there, but he could go further if we wanted.

“We come here (to this race) with a lot of what have turned out to be good novices and it was an obvious race for him. He’s very nice.

“He came here the same day Constitution Hill came so we were hardly hiding him and he’s got a big future I hope.

“I’m not sure about the short-term but he’ll be chasing one day and he’s a lovely, big boy with a great temperament and attitude and hopefully one to look forward to.

“You wouldn’t mind running him in another small race for education before going into something deeper, but you would like to think he would be able to run (in better company) at some stage.”

Henderson’s former lieutenant Ben Pauling looks to have a real chart-topper 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 a natural over fences so far, but his handler is expecting even better things when he steps up both in trip and grade 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, this was where we were coming.

“He wants slower ground or further and on soft ground this horse will be another gear better – he’s winning races he shouldn’t and he’s not the fastest horse in the world, just a proper galloper and not a natural two-miler.

“His jumping was very good, he jumps them like hurdles and he’s so fast and accurate whereas at Aintree he was a bit bold and a bit big at a few. It’s exciting.

“We won’t be going into graded company until we need to and at the moment it is all going very well so I’m very happy.”

Paul Nicholls also made his mark when Twinjets (3-1) followed up a recent win at Fontwell to romp to a 10-length success in the “Join Coral Bet £10 Get £50” Handicap Chase.

“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 then come back here,” explained Nicholls.

“He wants to be fresh and he definitely won’t run in the December Gold Cup but if I did go back, they have a similar race at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day.”