Kasbah Bliss leaps into World Hurdle contention with solid win at Haydock

Having chased home Franchoek, the favourite for the juvenile championship at Cheltenham, twice already this season the grey was sent off the 6-5 favourite under Paddy Brennan to register victory.

Peter Bowen's charge was always close to the pace and after going on between the final two flights, he overcame a mistake at the last to narrowly hold off the challenge of Pagan Starprincess.

It was Bowen's first victory of the calendar year.

Bowen's wife Karen said: "Paddy said he wouldn't want the ground any firmer than it was and he is improving with every run.

"He'll go to the Triumph now and take on Franchoek again. He will be tough to beat but he'll be there trying."

Kasbah Bliss (17-2) staked a claim on the Ladbrokes World Hurdle as Barry Keniry guided the French raider to a silky-smooth triumph in the RealHolidayReports.com Rendlesham Hurdle.

Tough-as-teak Lough Derg was still the one to pass heading to the final flight but Francois Doumen's six-year-old was stalking him at close quarters, and eased past on the run-in to score by four lengths.

The World Hurdle sponsors, along with totesport, cut Kasbah Bliss into 8-1 from 25s for the Cheltenham event, with the latter also easing fourth-placed Wichita Lineman out to 10-1 from 5s.

Doumen, who twice saddled Baracouda to victory in the stayers' hurdle, said: "I thought the race would bring him on for the World Hurdle, but he has gone and proven himself.

"He will now go to Cheltenham and will like better ground there.

"It is difficult to replace Baracouda but he is coming up, is still very young and is getting there."

He added: "Frank Berry recommended Barry to me and he gave the horse a splendid ride."

Keith Reveley faces many a sleepless night agonising over whether to send Tazbar to the Cotswolds next month after his improving six-year-old stamped his class on the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle.

The Saltburn handler is leaning towards keeping his young star for Aintree, but the 5-4 favourite's second win at Grade Two level has Reveley contemplating a run at the Festival.

VC Bet make Tazbar 6-1 joint second-favourite for the Spa Novices' Hurdle after he skipped away on the run-in to post an authoritative 12-length win on his first crack at three miles.

Reveley said: "I still think Aintree is his course but I will have to think about Cheltenham.

"It is a championship meeting but they do a strong gallop, are always racing up and down hill and even the best horse can make a mistake.

"If everything is right and all 12 owners want to go he could run but it will be a last-minute decision - and I'm sure to have some sleepless nights thinking about it!"

Miko de Beauchene followed up his Welsh National win with victory in Haydock's Red Square Vodka Gold Cup.

The eight-year-old, trained by Robert and Sally Alner, was shouldering top weight by virtue of his Chepstow win and he had to dig deep to claim the three-and-a-half-mile prize.

After taking up the running two fences from home, Andrew Thornton's mount, sent off a 17-2 chance, knuckled down to repel the challenge of outsider Flintoff for a length success.

Geeveem was sent off the 11-2 favourite but he made a series of jumping errors early on and was never travelling as Harrycone Lewis and D'Argent set the early pace.

Thornton was content to settle in the pack and bide his time, taking up a more prominent position as the leaders began to fade under pressure.

Philson Run, another of the leading contenders, lost his chance when brought down by Sixo four fences from home while Miko de Beauchene travelled sweetly for Thornton.

He looked set to pull away after hitting the front but Flintoff, who was in receipt of a stone from the winner, emerged to chase him home.

L'Aventure, who had never been travelling for Nick Scholfield, responded to his urgings to claim third with D'Argent sticking on for fourth.

Nick Mitchell, assistant trainer to the Alners, said: "We gave him plenty of time to get over the Welsh National and it is 51 days since he ran.

"He came out of that race well and was in the same good form for this as he was before Chepstow.

"This was only his sixth race over fences and he always looked like he would improve and grow into his frame.

"He will have a couple of entries at Cheltenham, including in the Pertemps as he is qualified and has a lower weight over hurdles, but the Scottish National has been his main aim since he won the Welsh race.

"He is better going left-handed and will go to Ayr as long as the ground is suitable."