HARDLY SURPRISING SECURES FIRST WIN UNDER RULES

Hardly Surprising extended our fine Spring form with a comfortable success from the front in a maiden hurdle at Fontwell on Wednesday 8 April in the colours of JP McManus.

He has been improving with racing, and this looked like a good opportunity for a nice horse whose best years lie ahead of him. He jumped and travelled well, found more when pressed on the final bend and kept on strongly in the closing stages.

Hardly Surprising showed a decent turn of foot on the better ground and will now benefit from a summer at grass.

When he returns into training in the autumn we will look forward to turning his attentions to chasing.