Tolworth Hurdle Result: Melodic hits right note at Sandown

Melodic Rendezvous was successful at Sandown.

Melodic Rendezvous provided trainer Jeremy Scott and jockey Nick Scholfield with the first Grade One success of their careers in the Tolworth Hurdle...

Sent off at 7-2, the seven-year-old had finished runner-up to Champagne Fever in the Punchestown Champion Bumper last April before opening his account over timber last month at Cheltenham.

Nicky Henderson's Royal Boy had finished behind him that day but was favourite to gain his revenge and took the field along with Pendra.

The eventual winner and Court Minstrel were travelling well turning in and when Royal Boy made yet another blunder at the second-last Melodic Rendezvous made his challenge.

Pendra stuck gamely to the task but lost his unbeaten record, beaten four and a half lengths.

Scott said: "The owners have been patient and we have ticked away with him. He has grown in stature and it was lovely to come here today. He started to bloom when won his bumper, the penny dropped and everything came together.

"I expect he'll end up in the Supreme but he will be put in both races (Supreme and Neptune at Cheltenham). He's a deceptive horse, but he does show plenty at home.

"We've been second a few times in Grade Ones so it's nice to pick one up and Nick is a tremendous asset to us, he's very much part of the team."

Asked if the winner is the best horse he has trained, Scott said: "I think Empiracle is a very nice horse too and he goes straight to Cheltenham for the Festival (Champion Bumper).

"I can't choose between the two, they are both very nice horses."

Jockey Noel Fehily said of Pendra: "He wasn't disgraced at all and I think they are two very nice horses."

Henderson said of third Royal Boy: "It was only the second time on a racecourse and he didn't really jump well enough."

Melodic Rendezvous can be backed at 21.020/1 for the Neptune Novices Hurdle.

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