Cheltenham Festival – Neon Wolf, Waiting Patiently and The New One all win vital Festival trials at Haydock
NEON WOLF maintained his unbeaten record with a polished display in the Sky Bet Supreme Trial Rossington Main Novices' Hurdle at Haydock.
The 4-5 favourite justified strong market support as he followed up his Exeter success with aplomb.
Golden Town made the running until Neon Wolf went on after the fourth-last flight, with Noel Fehily happy to kick on.
Elgin tried to lay down a bid in the straight, but he could never get close enough to be a serious threat to the Harry Fry-trained winner, who pulled away on the run-in to score by nine lengths.
Fehily said: "He's a nice horse. That was a good performance and he's very good.
"His jumping early was a little bit careful and he's still only a big baby.
"I thought this track might be a bit type for him because in time he's going to want three miles but he handled it fine.
"He's just a very good horse and he's in the right hands."
Waiting Patiently put up a solid performance to lower the colours of Politologue in a gripping race for the Star Sports-sponsored novice chase at Haydock.
Something had to give as the two principals were both defending unbeaten records over fences.
It could have gone either way, with the pair having the race to themselves in the straight.
Politologue went on from early pacemaker Maximiser down the back straight and tried to jump his rivals into submission.
However, Brian Hughes on Waiting Patiently (11-4) never let Politologue out of his sight and began his challenge from the fourth-last.
Taking a narrow lead just before the final fence, Malcolm Jefferson's six-year-old proved just too strong for the 6-4 favourite to land the spoils by a length and a quarter.
Waiting Patiently was quoted at 16-1 for the JLT Novices' Chase at Cheltenham Festival.
But Jefferson said: "He wouldn't go to Cheltenham unless it was soft.
"He'll also get an entry in the Arkle as I'm not sure if two miles is his better trip.
"Every trainer would love a Grade One (horse). I would love to think he could be (a Grade One horse)."
Jefferson continued: "He's still improving and I'd like to think he's a bit better than a handicapper.
"We came here confident as he's done everything right, but looking at that it I'm not sure if a strongly-run two miles might suit him better.
"It wouldn't bothered me if he missed Cheltenham this year as he'll be even better next year.
"He wouldn't run again before Cheltenham, I think we'll take a chance and hope it's soft."
The New One edged out Clyne to win Haydock's stanjames.com Champion Hurdle Trial for a third year running.
Nigel Twiston-Davies' nine-year-old had to dig deep to get the better of Clyne, who proved a tough nut to crack.
The New One made the running until Clyne set sail for home and briefly looked in trouble, with L'Ami Serge moving up menacingly on the far rail.
The winner even clattered the third-last flight but that did not stop Twiston-Davies' grand servant from pulling out more for the trainer's son, Sam, to gamely prevail by a length.
L'Ami Serge failed to go through with his effort and was only third, while Irving fell at the fourth flight.
Nigel Twiston-Davies said: "He's a proper racehorse. The sort of horse we dream about.
"We've everything covered, but, at the moment, I think we are (heading for the) Champion Hurdle.
"It's worth another go, I'd have thought."
Twiston-Davies snr continued: "I don't think he stays (three miles).
"He was outstayed at Kempton by Yanworth, but he won't run again before Cheltenham so we've got a lot of time to think about."
Sam Twiston-Davies would rather The New One stepped up in trip for the Stayers' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.
The jockey said: "Every time he comes here he wins ugly, but always comes out on top, which is great - his record here is exceptional.
"He's one of those horses that deals with conditions on the day and does what he has to do.
"As a jockey you want winners, so I'd love to have a go at the Stayers' Hurdle. I think he'd be running round in second gear and if he had anything left at the last he'd go close.
"He does have a lot of class."
Nicky Henderson said of the vanquished L'Ami Serge: "We haven't learned a lot, other than he's probably not a Champion Hurdle horses.
"He might go back over fences."
