G1 glory for Westerner

Captain Cutter (6g Westerner-Hollygrove Samba, by Accordion) claimed a top-grade victory for Westerner at Newbury on Saturday when running out an impressive winner in the G1 Challow Novices’ Hurdle. J P McManus’s six-year-old, bred by Mrs S Brennan, is now unbeaten in three starts over hurdles and ran out a four and a half length winner of the Challow Hurdle under A P McCoy. Winning trainer Nicky Henderson was represented by assistant Patrick Harty, who told sportinglife.com: “He seemed to jump better going left-handed and A P thought that also.The heavy ground suited him and he stayed on well all the way to the line. "He will get three miles, so we'll have to see come Cheltenham time if he's good enough to be an Albert Bartlett horse." It was a red-letter day for Westerner, who earlier was represented by the 19-length maiden hurdle winner Deputy Dan (5g Westerner-Louisas Dream, by Supreme Leader). McCoy added: "He's progressed with each run, but that was a big step up today and very pleasing."