Don’t Mind If I Do looks an above-average youngster

December 17

One of the most exciting novices in the yard, Don’t Mind If I Do confirmed the promise he showed on his debut at Warwick when bolting up by 15 lengths in the maiden hurdle at Wincanton today.

Runner-up to Paul Nicholls’s highly-rated youngster Regent’s Stroll in the sales bumper at Newbury in March, Don’t Mind If I Do completely outclassed the opposition, and a shake of the reins from Tom Cannon after the final flight was sufficient for the 1-5 favourite to draw clear and win easily.

Alan, breathing a sigh of relief, having seen Off The Jury beaten at the prohibitive odds of 2-13 at Doncaster last Saturday, confessed that he was “glad to get that one out of the way”.

He added:”Whatever the odds, you cannot just turn up and expect to win, and, to be honest with you, watching that horse win was three or four minutes of hell.

“However, Don’t Mind If I Do has got the job done, and he’ll have learned a lot from that. He is a fine big horse and is a hell of a height when you stand into him.

“We have taken the softly softly approach and given him plenty of time. He bumped into a good horse of Olly Murphy’s at Warwick and is not the sort of horse you would rush back, so I would imagine we’d give him a month or so and then go somewhere with a penalty.

“Rupert Anton, who owns Don’t Mind If I Do, has had three horses and they have all won. He is a great supporter and has been walking his box for the last 48 hours.”