QUEL SURPRISE: ANOTHER GOOD WINNER FOR NICHOLLS
  
Quel Destin became Paul Nicholls' fifth winner of the G2 JCB Triumph Trial Juvenile Hurdle, taking the two-mile contest from Cracker Factory by a length and a quarter at odds of 100/30.
 
The Muhtathir three-year-old, who was ridden by Harry Cobden, was bought from France in late summer and was having his third start for Nicholls.
 
The trainer said: "He's improving rapidly - he had done so at home after his first run and then again since Kempton. I'd have been disappointed if we hadn't beaten Jane Williams' horse [Montestrel, the 9/4 favourite, who finished last of the six runners] but I don't think he ran his race today.
 
"Quel Destin is tough and he gallops, and I can't wait to run him on some slower ground where stamina will come into it a little bit more. He's a real nice horse who's improving.
 
"In time he will need a longer trip, especially when he jumps fences next year, but for now we will run him in these type of races. We'll probably head off to Doncaster with him next month - there's quite a nice race for him there - and then see where we go afterwards. He's tough and he stays, and it was a really good ride from Harry."
 
QUEL SURPRISE! COBDEN AGAIN
 
Harry Cobden, newly-promoted to the position of no.1 jockey at Paul Nicholls' Ditcheat yard in Somerset, is on a winning streak.
 
He made it three wins from his last four rides when Quel Destin (100/30), who is trained by Cobden's boss, won the JCB Triumph Hurdle Trial Juvenile Hurdle. The gelding won by one and a quarter lengths from Cracker Factory (3/1), with Never Adapt (3/1) in third. The Barry Geraghty-ridden Never Adapt drifted badly in the betting market before the off and pulled very hard in the race before tiring.
 
Cobden, who rode in the colours of Martin Broughton & Friends, said: "He was very good there, although the favourite underperformed by running a bit keen. My horse was very straightforward, he travelled, battled and jumped very well and so it was a very good performance.
 
"Barry set off on Never Adapt and I did wonder if she might keep going, because we didn't know how good she might be, but she was just too keen. I thought she was beaten coming down the hill and my horse was very tough and genuine and stayed on.
 
"I thought he was beat coming down the hill so I wanted to keep hold of him a little bit, but he is very tough and very genuine - a lovely horse to ride.
"Coming down to the last, Quel Destin came up out of my hands, and I realised he had a bit left. He's one of our nicer juveniles so hopefully he can win a bit of prize money this season and come back here is March. Softer ground wouldn't hurt - he has quite a very high knee action."
 
Paddy Brennan rode a treble at the track yesterday, showing a preference to race away from the rail, and when asked if he had spotted a particular line, Cobden said: "I didn't ride here yesterday, but I think we will all be going a bit wider now - Paddy knows best!"

Quel Destin on his way to victory 
 
FACTORY RUNS A CRACKER FOR KING
 
The Alan King-trained Cracker Factory (3/1) finished a length and a quarter second to the Paul Nicholls-trained Quel Destin (10/3) in the opening race on day two of The November Meeting, the G2 JCB Triumph Trial Hurdle.
 
King said: "Cracker Factory ran well. He had to carry a penalty today, but we're happy with the performance and he seems to be improving with every run.
 
"There's plenty more to come from him and he does seem to enjoy this ground."
 
The Nicky Henderson-trained Never Adapt (3/1) pulled hard over the first few hurdles of the extended two-mile contest but was headed, but after the last to finish a further two and a half-lengths back in third.
 
Britain's champion Jump trainer added: "She was obviously too keen, but that was her first start in Britain and she would have learnt a lot from that. She has ability."
 
JOCKEYS ON GROUND
 
Harry Cobden, jockey of the length and a quarter winner Quel Destin, reported: "It's soft."
 
Daryl Jacob, rider of second-placed Cracker Factory, said: "It's good ground, but a bit dead."
 
Barry Geraghty, partnering third-placed Never Adapt: "It's on the easy side of good."
 
Sam Twiston-Davies, jockey of Katpoli (fourth), commented: "It's a bit dead"
 
Paddy Brennan, aboard Needs To Be Seen (5th), said: "It's good, good to soft."
 
Lizzie Kelly, rider of Montestrel (6th), commented: "Good to soft."
 
12.40pm JCB Triumph Trial Juvenile Hurdle (Grade 2) 2m 87y
1 Quel Destin (Martin Broughton & Friends) Paul Nicholls 3-11-03 Harry Cobden 100/30
2 Cracker Factory (Simon Munir & Isaac Souede) Alan King 3-11-03 Daryl Jacob 3/1
3 Never Adapt (J P McManus) Nicky Henderson 3-10-10 Barry Geraghty 3/1
 
6 ran
9/4 Fav Montestrel (6th)
Non-Runner: Il Re Di Nessuno (Self Cert (Blood Analysis Not Normal))
Distances: 1¼, 2½
Tote Win: £4.40 Places: £2, £1.60 Exacta: £12.20