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Saturday’s racing round-up includes news of a jockey injury from Fairyhouse…
Only two points separate the top three in the David Power Jockeys' Cup after an exciting two-day fixture at Newbury. Jockeys earn points for all races shown on ITV Racing and Sam Twiston-Davies holds the current lead on 72 points, two ahead of joint-second placed Sean Bowen and Harry Cobden. Whilst Twiston-Davies did not achieve a winner at Newbury, he recorded three placings from six rides at the meeting to accumulate enough points to put him at the top of the standings.
Frero Banbou achieved a valuable win for trainer Venetia Williams in the 2m7½f Rehearsal Handicap Chase at Newcastle. The gelding had not visited the winners' enclosure since January 2022 and he jumped well under conditional jockey Ned Fox to edge out favourite The Changing Man by one-and-a-quarter lengths. Marble Sands struggled to keep pace with the front two, finishing a further sixteen lengths behind in third.
Jockey Jack Kennedy will be on the sidelines for a considerable amount of time after breaking his leg for a sixth time in a fall at Fairyhouse. His mount, Twoohthree, suffered a fatal fall at the last fence in the opening race and he was immediately rushed to Connolly Hospital in Blanchardstown.
Dan Skelton enjoyed a successful day at the office with both short-priced favourites Listentoyourheart and The New Lion delivering at Newbury. Listentoyourheart followed up her success at Newbury's opening jumps meeting with a battling victory in the Listed Mares' Novices' Hurdle whilst The New Lion fulfilled expectations with an easy three-length success in the Coral 'We're Here For It' Novices' Hurdle. The New Lion could return to the scene of his triumph for the Grade 1 Challow Hurdle on 28 December.
Grade 1 winner Impaire Et Passe made a smooth transition to fecnes when taking the SIS Beginners' Chase at Fairyhouse. A 2/13 shot for the 2m5½f contest, the gelding travelled prominently under a confident ride from Paul Townend, pulling clear of Staffordshire Knot to record a twelve-length success.
