Folkestone Report: Air Force One gave the first indication of his undoubted potential as a novice chaser with a bloodless victory at Folkestone yesterday.
Trainer Charlie Mann talks in glowing terms about the six-year-old, who has hurdle form as elite as his name suggests including a second to Wichita Lineman at the Cheltenham Festival.
And although Mann was less impressed by the financial reward of the Zendrill Scaffolding (Kent) Beginners' Chase, it was a pleasing performance and he can now look at a return to the Cotswolds this March.
Air Force One, the 8 to 15 favourite, had been a disappointment on his debut over fences in a hot affair at Newbury, but seemed much more at home stepped back up to three miles and his proficient jumping saw him score unchallenged by 11 lengths.
"The SunAlliance Chase has always been the plan, but he won't be coming back here again, as the prize money is only £1,500 more than the seller," said Mann.
"I was gutted when he was beaten at Newbury and he has been pulled out of races since because of the ground - you don't get a horse like this very often and you have to look after them. He needed a run in that company and jumped well."
Takers of the 4 to 6 about Jean Le Poisson were kept on the edge of their seats as the favourite left himself a lot to do in the Bonus Maiden Chase.
Nicky Henderson's representative has not looked a natural over fences, brushing right through one on the final circuit and he seemed outpaced as the bold-jumping Chaninbar stole a decent advantage.
But Jean Le Poisson gradually wore him down and ended up pulling three lengths clear.
Rider Mick Fitzgerald said: "It wasn't pretty, but he's won and that's what matters. Everyone has been very patient with this horse and they have been rewarded."
Noel Chance has been rather quiet this season but could at least count on the whole-hearted support of his son-in-law Richard Johnson, who threw the proverbial kitchen sink at Turbulance (15 to 2) to get him home.
Laredo Sound and Superior Wisdom appeared to be going best in the closing stages of the Daily Bonus In Every Shop Novices' Hurdle but Johnson's persistence paid off and the grey ground out victory.
Patience paid off with Alpha Gamble (7 to 1), who eventually got on top of the runaway Red Jester in the Amateur Riders' Handicap Chase.
Eila (8 to 1) stuck out like a sore thumb at the bottom of the weights in the Mares Only Novices' Handicap Hurdle. Carrying the colours of the late Peter Orton, made famous recently by the smart chaser Hobbs Hill, the Nigel Twiston-Davies-trained runner was trying a handicap for the first time and fought off Macs Goose and the hampered Lady Pilot to prevail by a length and a half.
Andrew Thornton has been suffering badly at the hands of the stewards in recent days but put his troubles behind him to drive Emma Lavelle's Najca de Thaix (14 to 1) clear in the last.
Wild Ground (100 to 30) was steered by James Davies to an easy victory in the Selling Handicap Hurdle and was snapped up for 5,800 guineas by Brendan Powell.
