Venetia Williams and Norman Williamson, still on a high following Teeton Mill's Pertemps King George VI Chase victory, were back in the winner's enclosure when Boots Madden galloped away with the Tote Handicap Chase at Stratford yesterday. And Williams had news of her flying grey, who is now favourite for the Cheltenham Gold Cup, saying: "He's absolutely fine and I'm very pleased with him. We haven't done anything with him since Kempton as he's just been pottering about at home.
"There's a strong possibility that his next outing will be the Peter Marsh Chase at Haydock at the end of next month and the other race that's been mentioned is obviously Cheltenham's Pillar Properties Chase at the same time."
Williamson was at his best aboard Boots Madden, sending the eight-year-old to the head of affairs just after halfway before stretching 26 lengths clear of Kinnahalla where it mattered.
"Norman's given him a lovely ride as it is imperative he is ridden confidently, otherwise it affects his confidence," added the trainer. "He's just a handicapper and there are plenty more races around for him in the future."
Jockey in the news Richard Johnson showed just why many owners want him on their side when getting hotpot favourite Tiraldo home by nine lengths from Cardiac Arrest in the Hartley Pensions Novices' Chase.
Henry Daly's five-year-old was forced to pull out all the stops by the runner-up before asserting in the home straight to justify 2 to 5 favouritism. He is likely to be ridden from the front next time.
Play Games made it four wins from five outings this season under a confident ride from Richie Forristal to take the Claydon Horse Exercisers Handicap Chase for amateur riders.
Jenny Pitman's Goodtime George finally got his head in front after a clutch of near-misses with a facile 29-length call over Percy Parkeeper in division one of the Richardsons of Oldbury Maiden Hurdle.
The second division of the contest went in rather fortuitous style to Perfect Fellow, who profited from the final-flight blunder of favourite Gentle Rivage to make Di Haine's trip from Newmarket worthwhile.
Barton Scamp turned the 007 Taxis Selling Handicap Hurdle into the proverbial procession in the hands of amateur Noel Fehily, passing the post with 15 lengths to spare over Alimerjam, and inform trainer Nicky Henderson sent out his 12th winner of the past fortnight as Deep C Diva made most of the running under Mick Fitzgerald to land the concluding EBF Novices' Hurdle.
Colin Smith, the owner of Jackdaws Castle, has responded to Tuesday night's announcement that jockey Adrian Maguire has ended his retainer with David Nicholson's yard.
"Nothing will change at Jackdaws Castle in real terms," he said, "except that Adrian will have a little more flexibility than he has now.
"And I think he will come out of this better off than he is now as I believe he will ride a big percentage of the horses at the yard under the new terms.
"Now Adrian is an independent free agent he could say to David Nicholson `here are 20 or 30 horses that I would be prepared to ride in all their races' and for the rest of the time he could partner whatever else he wants to for other trainers."
Richard Johnson, currently in second place with 71 winners behind Tony McCoy in the jockeys' table, had been tipped to take over as the retained rider for the stable - but this will not now be the case.
Smith explained: "Richard Johnson fits in like he always has done. He will be able to ride a number of horses in the yard as he is doing now - it all means we have two good jockeys who are also free agents.
"But there will be no retained jockey here for the rest of this season and quite possibly next season. I also think our other jockeys - Robert Thornton, Ollie McPhail and Bob Massey - will also benefit greatly from this."
