DOUBLE AT EXETER WITH KAP OUEST AND SHERMINATOR WINNING

A double at Exeter on Friday provided a timely tonic after we were forced to withdraw Idaho Sun from the Supreme Novice Hurdle on the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival.

It is so frustrating that he was lame again on Wednesday after showing signs of improvement earlier in the week.

It’s bitterly disappointing that Idaho Sun will not be going to Cheltenham and hopefully he will be flying the flag for us again before too long. A bone scan next week should tell us more.

Heading to Exeter, I felt all three of our runners had really good chances, but On The Bayou underperformed in the opening maiden hurdle, and you could see why when he returned to unsaddle as he was quite sore on a hind leg after being struck into and pulling a shoe off.

Kap Ouest then won tidily in the colours of JP McManus off a mark of 118. He was a bit free and gassy early on before settling into a nice rhythm and was well on top in the closing stages.

He had run well on his first start over fences, and it’s a bonus that he will remain a novice until the end of November. We will try to find another suitable opening for him in the weeks ahead.

Half an hour later, Sherminator completed an impressive double for the yard with a decisive victory in the colours of the Riverdee Stables in a Class 4 handicap hurdle over two miles, one furlong.

He has now won all three races for us in the colours of Riverdee Stables that he has completed, having taken a heavy fall at Cheltenham on his first start of the season.

We were keen to bring him to Exeter for his first attempt in a 0-120 handicap hurdle before stepping him up in grade.

He has a nice profile, is probably at his best on soft ground, and given his pedigree, we might be tempted to give him a run on the flat over twelve furlongs if the ground is suitable.