Highway to success in Dovecote demolition

It was straight traffic for Highway One O Two as he made every yard of the running to take the Grade 2 Sky Bet Dovecote novices Hurdle under Tom Cannon for trainer Chris Gordon and owner Mr Anthony Ward-Thomas.

Sent off 4/1 after an impressive victory at Plumpton the time before, he maintained a healthy advantage on his pursuers and came home by 5 lengths to West Cork, who was the only horse who got anywhere near him at the end, and in the process made it not just a double for his jockey, but a double of Grade 2 races.

Keenly away over the first two flights, he quickly established a 3 length lead, while over flight two Benson and Calgary Tiger were untidy, the former with a more noticeable and significant error, bumping jockey Sam Twiston-Davies up off the saddle, but remaining the partnership.

Kid Commando had moved alongside the leader at flight three, with winning pointer Garry Clermont settled at the head of the remainders. Benson once again made an error at the fourth, his jumping not up to scratch. He received reminders and was scrubbed along after the fifth, while up ahead the leader was quick at the sixth as the pace lifted before the turn towards home.

Around the bend Bathsheba Bay was first off the bridle from the sextet that had gone ahead of Benson, Faire Past Sivola and Calgary Tiger, those three finding this much too hot for them. Buzz was now shimmied along by Nico De Boinville and seemingly finding nothing. Straightening up for home and the leader was sent on again by Tom Cannon, with Garry Clermont in behind alongside Kid Commando and West Cork all posing as the remaining challengers.

At 2 out it was still Highway One O Two keeping up his remorseless gallop, and between the final two flights it was clear that only West Cork had any hope of bridging the gap and foiling his attempts to make all. Despite getting in close at the last, Highway One O Two was 4 lengths up on landing and carried on galloping in gutsy fashion to score by 5 lengths to West Cork, who kept on valiantly in second, with Kid Commando. Buzz got home for fourth, with Garry Clermont in fifth.

Post race, Chester Williams reported to the stewards that his mount Faire Part Sivola hung lefted throughout the race. It was also noted that after the meeting that trainer Chris Gordon mentioned that the winner would not be taking up his entry in the Imperial Cup at Sandown in March and would be waiting for Aintree, in which one can assume his target will be the Top Novices over the minimum trip.