Arkle beckons for Pendil winner Jax Junior

Lucy Wadham is inclined to aim for the Arkle with emphatic Pendil winner Jax Junior.

The seven-year-old was the 8-11 favourite to win the Kempton Grade Two, and duly obliged when coming home six-and-a-half lengths to the good under Tom Cannon ahead of a prior Listed winner in Jasmine Bliss.

It was his third win of what is shaping up to be a fruitful term, and all being well the triumph will lead him to line up in the Arkle on the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival next month.

“I was absolutely delighted, it was a wonderful run,” said Wadham.

“He did everything easily, including being quite nimble when Go West made quite a bad error right in front of him.

“He didn’t even come off the bridle, it was lovely to see.

“Since he’s learned to settle he has been finishing his races very strongly and he’s not slow, he’s got a great turn of foot and was going 35 miles an hour over the last two fences.

“I know on figures he was entitled to win, but the way he did it was very striking.

“We’re very excited about him for the rest of the season. If everything is right with him – and he seems very well – I think we will have a crack at the Arkle.

“If he missed that we would obviously have Aintree, but at the moment we’re thinking of the Arkle.”