Raider is Sound as a pound

SOUND Man proved an ace for David Lloyd when he came home alone and netted a prize of pounds 19,126 for the British Davis Cup captain in the First National Bank Gold Cup here yesterday. But any value the race had as a fact-finding mission disappeared when the Irish raider's only serious rival, Morceli, fell five fences from home.

The object of the exercise had been to test the ability of Sound Man, one of last year's leading two-mile novices, to stay further with a view to tackling the three miles of the King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day. But his connections left Ascot none the wiser, and the seven- year-old's trainer, Eddie O'Grady, said: "We would have learnt far more had the other horse given us a race. We'll go home and think about the King George, but it would be wrong of me to tell anyone to back him for the race at this stage."

Sound Man, acquired in partnership by Lloyd as a promising five-year- old winner of two bumpers, is the only horse running in his colours and has proved a shrewd investment for the successful tennis-centre entrepreneur, as yesterday's victory brought his winnings to more than pounds 120,000. Richard Dunwoody kept the classy-looking son of Kemal in third place as Dancing Paddy set a decent clip, then, as Morceli went on, joined issue at the water down the back straight. He appeared to have taken Morceli's measure when the grey failed to rise two fences later, and was eased almost to a trot at the line, a distance clear of Dancing Paddy.

Dunwoody said: "He was safe and clever, and is a very good horse indeed. But my own feeling is that he'll be better at two miles, and that we'll see him in the Champion Chase at Cheltenham." Morceli was unscathed after his lapse. His rider, Warren Marston, deputising for the injured Adrian Maguire, said: "For whatever reason, he just didn't take off. He gave the impression that he'd be better going left-handed."

Sound Man's jumping could not be faulted, but the honours of the day, if not the year, in that department went to Young Hustler at Aintree, where the eight-year-old put in an exhibition round over the big Grand National fences as he successfully conceded two stone to all his rivals in the Crowther Homes Becher Chase.

Young Hustler is one of the best jumpers in training, but had failed to complete in his two previous visits to Aintree. In last year's National he was going well up front when he was knocked over at the 11th fence, and in March he overjumped and came down at the first open ditch. But his trainer, Nigel Twiston-Davies, has long regarded him as a natural for Liverpool, and third time round he justified that faith. He made every yard and leapt the opposition silly, and Chris Maude's grin, as wide as Becher's Brook as he pulled up after the post, testified to the exhilaration of the experience. The Irish raider Feathered Gale unseated at the last ditch, and Into The Red fell two out when in contention, but Young Hustler's class was unmistakable, and Ladbrokes have cut his National odds to 20-1.

Twiston-Davies said: "He's never made a mistake here - he's just been unlucky but we've got it right this time."

Twiston-Davies confirmed that Young Hustler may be back in action next Saturday in the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup, at Newbury, for which he is set to carry 11st 9lb (including a 4lb penalty for yesterday's win). Ladbrokes have cut his price for the Newbury race to 8-1 (from 12-1).

Racing results, page 30