Kingston Pride makes immediate impact on chasing debut

Kingston Pride made an impressive chasing debut on his first start for new connections at Perth.

Only three lined up in the Join Racing TV Now Kilmany Beginners’ Chase, with Fergal O’Brien’s Tripoli Flyer, winner of the Grade Two Dovecote Novices’ Hurdle at Kempton and Jet To Vegas, fourth in a Grade One at the Grand National meeting and winner of Kelso Grade Two Premier Hurdle, the other runners.

A three-times winner for previous trainer Nicky Henderson, Kingston Pride was bought for £285,000 by Barbara Hester and Diana Whateley and sent to Olly Murphy.

With champion jockey Sean Bowen in the plate, he travelled nicely in behind as Jet To Vegas set a stiff tempo and when Tripoli Fyler unseated Johnny Burke three out, it became a match.

Kingston Pride still had a couple of lengths to find jumping the last but he quickened up smartly to win by two and three-quarter lengths at 9-2.

“It didn’t surprise me in the slightest as he’d been working very nicely at home,” said Murphy.

“He didn’t have a lot of experience, he only had three races over obstacles in his life.

“I thought it was a very good performance, he picked up well, jumped great on the whole and he’ll definitely come forward for the run so hopefully it should stand him in good stead going forward.

“I’ll keep him away from very deep ground but that ended up being much softer than we imagined today and I rang Sean before the race to see if we should definitely run, but these novices need experience otherwise you end up running out of time.

“I was worried about the ground but he seemed to go through it well, so it’s a nice start but I’m not sure where he’ll go next.

“He’ll be campaigned like a good horse.”

Kingston Pride was part of a four-timer for trainer and jockey.

Scorpio Rising (10-11 favourite) won the Edinburgh Gin Owner Trainer Jockey Awards EBF ‘National Hunt’ Maiden Hurdle, while Kap Boy (11-8 favourite) and Diamond Geezer (5-4 favourite) took both divisions of the Every Race Live On Racing TV Handicap Hurdle.