Grey Abbey battles to win

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Scottish National winner Grey Abbey put in a typically gutsy performance to win the Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby.

The popular grey led from start to finish on the soft going, holding off the dogged challenge of Cheltenham Gold Cup runner-up Sir Rembrandt.

Grey Abbey was ridden by Graham Lee and trained by Howard Johnson, who also teamed up to win last year's race with 40-1 outsider Ballybough Rasher.

Lord Sam, one of last season's top novices, made several jumping errors before finally dumping jockey Jim Culloty at a fence on the back straight.

Only three of the six runners completed with Turgeonev falling four out while Artic Jack was pulled up.

New prize for jumps season

The Charlie Hall Chase, worth £40,600 to the winner, is the first major race of the jumps season and forms part of the British Horseracing Board's new Order of Merit.

Grey Abbey also stands to win a £100,000 bonus should he go on and win the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

And winning trainer Johnson said that he was tempted to have a crack at jump racing's blue riband race in March.

He jumped well and battled well and should come on for the run Trainer Robert Alner on Sir Rembrandt

"I would love to have a cut at the Gold Cup if we got soft ground down there," he said.

"We will enter him for the Scottish National and (the Grand National) at Aintree, but he is going to have top weight in all the handicaps."

Ruling out a tilt at the King George VI Chase on Boxing Day, Johnson added: "We won't run him again until perhaps the Peter Marsh at Haydock in January. And don't forget he gets better in the spring."

Sir Rembrandt's trainer Robert Alner was "delighted" with his horse's run but also ruled out the King George.

"He was beaten by a very good horse but he jumped well and battled well," he said.

"We could not do any more with him at home, so he should come on for the run.

"We will have a think what to do now - the Gold Cup is the main target again, but you can rule out the King George."

Bet365 Charlie Hall Chase (Grade 2)
Wetherby, 3m 1f
1 Grey Abbey (G Lee) 5-1
2 Sir Rembrandt (A Thornton) 5-2 fav
3 Royal Emperor (D Elsworth) 7-2
Six ran. Dist: 3l, dist.

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Top staying hurdler Crystal D'Ainay was beaten on his seasonal reappearance at Wetherby.

The five-year-old was third in the Stayers' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival but was beaten on his first start of the 2004-2005 season by Telemoss in the John Smith's Hurdle, also part of the BHB Order of Merit.

Ten-year-old Telemoss struck late to prevail in an exciting three-way fight to the finish.

John Smith's Hurdle (Grade 2)
Wetherby, 3m 1f
1 Telemoss (A Dobbin) 8-1
2 Crystal D'Ainay (R Thornton) 8-11 fav
3 Saint Matthew (D Elsworth) 15-2
Seven ran. Dist: 1½l, shd.

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Cornish Rebel made a successful start to his chasing career with victory in a novice chase at Lingfield.

A full brother to Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Best Mate, Cornish Rebel, ridden by Ruby Walsh, came home 17 lengths clear of his rivals.

The race was marred when Felixrdotcom, who had looked like winning, slipped on landing three out and broke his hind leg - he was subsequently put down.

Cornish Rebel's win was part of a Lingfield double for trainer Paul Nicholls, who also saw Armaturk beat more-fancied stablemate St Pirran to win the feature race of the day.

Nicholls, who also had two winners at Chepstow, has now saddled 16 winners in 15 days.

Crown Wallcoverings Beginners' Chase
Lingfield, 2m 4½f
1 Cornish Rebel (R Walsh) Evens fav
2 The Glen Road (D Dennis) 66-1
3 Super Tip (P Hide) 40-1
Eight ran. Dist: 17l, dist.

Coloroll United House Handicap Chase
Lingfield, 2m
1 Armaturk (C Williams) 6-1
2 Bleu Superbe (S Thomas) 6-1
3 St Pirran (R Walsh) 6-1
Six ran. Dist: 4l, 5l.