HORSE RACING: Top jockey Tom Scudamore steers Taj Badalandabad to success in the big race

Odds-on shot Maestro Royal wins the opener at Huntingdon Racecourse under Jeremiah McGrath. Picture: STEVE DAVIES (Image: Steve Davies)

Tom Scudamore and Jeremiah McGrath rode two winners apiece as the local track staged its second fixture of 2018.

Scuadmore’s successes included victory aboard Taj Badalandabad in the big race of the day, the Pertemps Network Group Handicap Hurdle (Series Qualifier). The David Pipe-trained horse eased six lengths clear to decisively land the three miles, one furlong contest at odds of 9/1 – the biggest-priced winner on a seven-race card.

Scudamore was also victorious half-an-hour later as First Assignment landed the two miles, four-and-a-half furlongs handicap hurdle at 4/1 for trainer Ian Williams.

McGrath’s two winners – Maestro Royal at 1/9 in the opening beginners’ chase and Pogue Bobbi (6/5) in the handicap chase – were both gained for champion trainer Nicky Henderson.

Django Django was another short-priced winner when obliging in the two-mile novices’ hurdle for the O’Neill family (son Jonjo riding for his father of the same name).

Broken Quest (8/1) took the novices’ handicap hurdle over two miles, three-and-a-half furlongs for jockey Sam Twiston-Davies and trainer David Dennis, while the closing bumper went to 6/1 shot Anemoi under Aidan Coleman for Harry Whittington.

The next fixture at Huntingdon Racecourse is on Thursday, February 8 when the Sidney Banks Memorial Novices’ Hurdle is the highlight.

Trainer Warren Greatrex have landed the last two runnings of the race and could have another strong contender this time around with the highly-rated Western Ryder being touted as a possible for the two-and-a-half mile contest.