Desert ends Gask's quest for jumps win; LUDLOW.

Byline: by Will O'Hanlon

JEREMY GASK, who took out his training licence six months ago, ended a frustrating wait for his first jumps winner when sending out Desert Quest to take the 2m novice chase under Liam Heard.

Gask, who took over from Simon Earle at Warminster last year, had a Flat winner three weeks ago, but Desert Quest's victory - gained despite the horse hanging on the run-in - was the one he has been waiting for.

"I've trained jumps winners in Australia," he said, "but it's great to get that first one over here."

Gask's progress since he set up has been delayed by the installation of new gallops and stables.

"That has taken time, and the gallops work has probably held up the jump horses more than the Flat team," he said. "But Rome wasn't built in a day and we're coming along nicely now. I've got 30 horses in, with space for 50, and hopefully things will pick up quickly."

Matt Sheppard, who has done outstandingly well with several low-grade ex-pointers in recent seasons, could have another money-spinner on his hands in Beesneez, who took the 2m4f handicap chase under Seamus Durack.

"He joined me just before Christmas and ran a good second to Gods Token at Hereford recently," said Sheppard. "That horse franked the form when fifth at Cheltenham and I'm a bit surprised the handicapper didn't raise my horse as a result of that."

Thistle, who got stuck in the mud at Taunton last time, showed his appreciation of the much better ground here as he readily landed the 2m selling hurdle under Matty Roe.

"Matty's given the horse a cracking ride," said winning trainer Gerald Ham. "When we met earlier I was about to tell him about the horse, until he told me he used to ride him out every day when they were both at Howard Johnson's yard. Thistle was bought privately out of Howard's yard last summer by Alan Clegg."

Galient, second in the Queen's Vase two years ago, outclassed his field in the 3m novice hurdle, winning as he pleased under Mick Fitzgerald.

"It's always nice to see a class horse like this one getting a second chance over jumps," said Fitzgerald of the Nicky Henderson-trained winner.

Trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies and jockey David England were in double form, taking the 2m handicap hurdle with Distiller and the 2m5f novice handicap hurdle with First De La Brunie.

Super Nomad's victory under Lorna Brooke in the hunter chase was marred by the death of East Tycoon, the Jonjo O'Neill-trained nine-year-old meeting the water jump wrong and suffering a fatal injury.

Star performance

Matt Sheppard looks as if he is working the oracle again with Beesneez, winner of the 2m4f chase

Quote of the day 1

"It's a relief to have my first jumps win, but for a while there he seemed to be doing his best not to give it to me" - trainer Jeremy Gask after Desert Quest had almost hung away his chance in the novice chase

Quote of the day 2

"Seamus Durack was fairly confident for the last two miles of a two-and-a-half-mile race!" - trainer Matt Sheppard talking about Beesneez