TOOLMAKER DADDY edged out kennelmate Nomansland Flyer for a Ricky Holloway one-two in Sunday’s Arc Champion Hurdle Final at Central Park – landing the trainer a fifth victory in the event, the third leg of hurdling’s triple crown after the Springbok and Grand National.

Following Champion Hurdle wins at Wimbledon for Holloway’s Soviet Military (2013) and Razldazl Raidio (2016) plus the Central Park successes of Lenson Wilson (2018) and Turnhouse Jet (2019), it was the July 2017 son of Scolari Me Daddy and Droopys Isabella who came up trumps in the £6,500 feature for the jumps specialist, who sent out four of the finalists at the weekend.

In a generally crowded affair, it was Lemming Shoni (Jim Daly) who led early, although the eventual winner was soon handy on the outside. With favourite Lenson Doolin (Ricky Holloway) involved in scrimmaging on the run-up before hitting the second hurdle, it was left to another Holloway runner Nomansland Flyer to throw down a challenge.

Leading down the back, he was soon challenged by Toolmaker Daddy who nosed ahead at the third bend and was always holding his kennelmate to the wire for a head victory in 30.26sec (normal) for the 480m trip. Barry O’Sullivan’s Slowlane Penny stayed on well to claim third behind the Holloway pair.

The winning trainer said: “I actually co-own Toolmaker Daddy with Mark Cottle who has won the race before with Turnhouse Jet – and am delighted to win my fifth Champion Hurdle.

“Lemming Shoni moving wide from the boxes put paid to the chance of Roxholme Biscuit and Lenson Doolin, so l did begin to worry on the run to the bend. However, class prevailed and Daddy went one better than in the Grand National which is no more than he deserved.

“I’d just like to say a big thanks to Crayford for the graded scheme they run over hurdles there. It allows me to run my hurdlers and Daddy is an H1 graded dog at Crayford, so him winning the Champion Hurdle is definitely a first success for the Ian Smyth-led scheme.

“Danny (Rayment) in the racing office at Crayford has been brilliant to work with as have the whole racing office.

“It’s been a great year which has brought the highest points the kennel has ever achieved. To finish eighth in the table is just amazing.”

Results: https://www.gbgb.org.uk/meeting/?meetingId=380199&raceId=798137