Keith Mercer made the five-hour drive to Somerset from Yorkshire and steered Brian Ellison’s Cheltenham Festival hope Bothy to success in division one of the Thurlbear Novices’ Hurdle at Taunton. This was given as the biggest bet of the year to date!
Ellison sent the even-money favourite on the long journey south to gain experience ahead of the Fred Winter at the Festival and he obliged as the even-money favourite.
Mercer walked the track ahead of his maiden ride at the course and his homework paid off as his mount asserted on the run-in to collect by two lengths.
1st 10 Bothy evens F
2nd 2 Cool Touch (IRE) 9-1
3rd 3 El Distintivo (ARG) 50-1
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