Self Defense fought bravely to beat Rooster Booster
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Self Defense managed to get the better of former Champion Hurdle winner Rooster Booster to take the Agfa Hurdle at Sandown.
The 5-1 winner, ridden by Robert Thornton, went off four pounds lighter than the 4-5 favourite and showed his strength up the hill at the end.
Outsider Cool Roxy set a fast pace from the start, building up a lead of almost a furlong on his rivals.
But the rest of the field closed the gap coming up to the second last.
The win prompted bookmakers to cut Self Defense's odds for the Smurfit Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham from 50-1 to 20-1.
The Henrietta Knight-trained El Vaquero, ridden by Jim Culloty, landed the spoils in a thrilling Scilly Isles Novices Chase.
Ashley Brook, partnered by Rodi Greene, who retires from riding at the end of
today, forced a strong early pace with Lacdoudal as El Vaquero settled behind.
Le Passing moved up strongly on the outside and went with Lacdoudal but Le Passing made a costly mistake at the second-last.
Ashley Brook and El Vaquero forced their way into the battle and coming to the last all four had a chance, but Ashley Brook made a bad error.
El Vaquero galloped on gamely down the outside to strike the front and came home two lengths clear of Le Passing, with Lacdoudal a head further
away in third.
The horse's win matches the achievement of stablemate Best Mate, who won this race four years ago.
Agfa Hurdle, Sandown (2m 110y)
1. Self Defense (R Thornton) 5-1
2. Rooster Booster (R Johnson) 4-5 Fav
6 ran. Dist: 3, 1¾
Scilly Isles Novices Chase (2m 4f)
1. El Vaquero (J Culloty) 4-1
2. Le Passing (R Walsh) 5-1
6 ran. Dist: 2, hd
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Something at Aintree may be more suitable than Cheltenham if the ground is all right
