Delight for Hobson and Cook with Doncaster double

Ramonex set for Carlisle next.

Both Richard Hobson and Danny Cook enjoyed a double of winners when Ramonex and Discko Des Plages justified their favourite tags to oblige in testing conditions at Doncaster.

Heading to post as 9-2 joint-favourite, Ramonex provided Hobson with his first triumph on the card when a three-and-a quarter-length winner of the 888Sport Download The App Handicap Chase.

The nine-year-old fell during his first run after a 592-day lay-off at Market Rasen last month, but bounced back when sealing victory under Cook and gaining qualification for the Northern Lights Middle Distance Chase final at Carlisle on March 22.

“He got tired at Market Rasen, we’ve given him plenty of time to get over that fall,” said Hobson.

“For some reason he was listed as dead (on an administrative website) after that and he certainly wasn’t, so he’s come back to life. Back from the dead to win and now he’s off to Carlisle.”

He added: “He’s a bit better than that actually, but he’d have hated that ground.

“He’s still won comfortably so we’ll head to Carlisle and hopefully get that bit of better ground.”

Discko Des Plages (4-1 favourite) sealed a good day for Hobson when coasting home under Cook to take the 888Sport Handicap Hurdle by an eased-up four and three-quarter lengths.

Miah Grace recorded a third success of the season when claiming the 888Sport Follow Us On Instagram Mares’ Handicap Hurdle for trainer Jedd O’Keeffe and jockey Joe Colliver.

The five-year-old, who enjoyed two victories at Hexham last year before finishing third on her handicap debut at Leicester in January, held off 5-6 favourite Miss Heritage and the rallying Stainsby Girl to claim a two-length victory.

“She’s doing really well, though I didn’t want the rain,” said O’Keeffe of his 11-2 winner, which qualifies her for the Challenger Mares’ Hurdle Series final at Haydock on April 11.

“They are getting through the ground, but I’ve seen her jump slightly better. The plan for her was always to come and get qualified for the final of this series and I would imagine that’s where she’ll go next.

“Of course it’s over a bit further, it’s just short of two miles three (furlongs). I think on a track like Haydock she should stay that no problem at all. We’ve said for a while she could get a bit further, so then she could step up in trip.”

The three-mile 888Sport Novices’ Handicap Chase went the way of Oliver Greenall’s 9-2 shot Midnight Moss, who battled through the heavy going to pull clear of his rivals under Paddy Brennan.

Passing 9-4 favourite Minella Examiner and Olly Murphy’s 12-1 chance Seemingly So, the eight-year-old eventually prevailed by two and three-quarter lengths to claim a first victory over fences.

Neil Mulholland’s Exelerator Express took the 888Sport Bet Novices’ Hurdle at a starting price of 5-1 under Sam Twiston-Davies.

Drawing level with 2-5 favourite Goobinator on the approach to the post, the six-year-old gelding stayed on to triumph by five lengths on his first performance since undergoing a wind operation.

“I tried to pick my way through what was supposed to be the better ground,” said Twiston-Davies of his winning ride.

“It was a nice performance and I’m delighted for the team that he’s got his head in front.

The 888Sport Take ‘Em On British EBF Mares’ “National Hunt” Novices’ Hurdle went the way of Henry Daly’s 5-4 favourite It’s Probably Me, who was partnered to a three-and-a-quarter length victory by Richard Patrick.

First Flow (11-4 favourite) then beat two rivals to claim an easy 25-length victory in the 888Sport Novices’ Chase for Kim Bailey and David Bass, a performance that may serve as preparation for the Grand Annual at the Cheltenham Festival.

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