Excello made an impressive start with a commanding victory in the opening race at Warwick on Wednesday. The five-year-old, trained by Jane Williams, has previously won three hurdle races and competed against horses like Salver and Sir Gino, but has now shifted focus to more challenging obstacles this season.
Last month, during his first chase and seasonal rematch at Worcester, he finished fourth behind recent Cheltenham winner Wade Out. However, at the Warwick Support Our Farmers Novices Limited Handicap Chase, Excello delivered a standout performance, jumping skillfully under jockey Ciaran Gethings and winning by nine and a half lengths as a 7-4 favorite.
Mr. Cessna took second place, while Spirits Bay, the 13-8 favorite, came in third and last after making several errors. Trainer Jane Williams described Excello as a unique horse, somewhere between a 2-mile and 2.5-mile runner, making it tricky to find the perfect races and conditions for him. She praised his impressive step up in performance during the race and noted his love for soft ground, which she believes plays a key role in his success.
Williams, who watched the race from France, mentioned that Excello looked like he could have handled another lap and is still young and enthusiastic about racing. She expects him to run several more times during the winter on soft ground before wrapping up the season once the surface dries out.
Dan and Harry Skelton also celebrated wins, with Chuggy maintaining an undefeated 2-0 chase record in the Hazelton Mountford Insurance Handicap Chase, followed by Kaikorock securing victory in the Price Up Daily Sports Boost Handicap Chase. Elliott England rode a strong race on Ben Poling’s One Way West in the Price Up Bet Conditional Jockeys Handicap Hurdle, but narrowly missed a double as Prime Pauling fell short in the Suup Novice Hurdle, and 5-6 favorite Digdeep was edged out by Sonya In Grande, trained and ridden by Kim Bailey and Matt Nichols respectively.
Another notable winner was Ollie Murphy’s Gwennie May Starr, who won the Denis O’Connell Memorial Handicap Hurdle by a nose over Getaway Theater, ridden by Lewis Saunders.
Fan Take: Excello’s commanding win marks an exciting step forward in his career, showcasing his potential to excel over fences and adding intrigue to upcoming races this season. For horse racing enthusiasts, it signals a promising talent to watch and highlights the thrill of seeing young horses develop and adapt to bigger challenges in the sport.
