Bill Joyce shines for the O’Neills at Sandown

Bill Joyce maintained his unbeaten record over obstacles with a likeable display in the Betfair Winter Novices’ Hurdle at Sandown.

A winner of two bumpers before finishing unplaced when well fancied in the championship event at the Cheltenham Festival, he looks a very smart prospect for Jonjo and AJ O’Neill.

He looked decent when winning on his hurdling debut at Carlisle, but was odds-on to do so that day and this represented a totally different test in Grade Two company.

Up against Paul Nicholls’ Quebecois, who finished almost upsides Bill Joyce at Cheltenham, it was that one and Harry Cobden who attempted to make all.

However, he was not going fast enough for Bill Joyce, as Jonjo O’Neill jnr allowed his mount to stride on, having been keen in the early stages.

He led the field into the straight and by then only Quebecois and Pony Soprano were in hailing distance and when Bill Joyce got in tight to the second-last, losing some momentum, the others were given a chance.

It was to his credit, though, that despite the testing ground Bill Joyce picked up in a matter of strides, jumped the last well and won by five lengths at 4-1.

Betfair introduced the winner at 20-1 for the Turners Novices’ Hurdle and cut him to 33-1 from 66s for the Albert Bartlett.

“You would have to be pleased with that, he’s a big, strong horse and a chaser in the making,” said AJ O’Neill.

“He was keen enough early but with a bit of free rein he gets into a nice rhythm.

“He’s a staying chaser in future, what he does the rest of this year we’ll have to wait and see. There’s a couple of options but nothing concrete.

“We know he goes on soft ground, he’s a big, strong horse and he can plough on through it.

“He’s definitely one of our nicer ones and you wouldn’t mind having a couple more like him.”

The man on board said: : “I was very impressed. He was a little bit keen with me early, so I just let him stride on a bit going down the hill. He then idled a bit and I was able to fill him up going down the back turning in.

“He’s a relentless galloper and jumped well on the whole today. He was looking for a bit of company after the last.

“It read to me like a fair race on paper and I’d say it will probably end up being one.

“There has been a bit of pressure because we have always liked him. He got beat in the Champion Bumper but has won everything else so has done well so far.”