SAMARQUAND made a winning debut over hurdles at Ludlow for Misterton trainer Harry Fry.

In a post on his website blog, Dorset handler Fry described Samarquand as a “raw baby”.

He said: “Top marks to the course for putting on a decent prize of £12,996 for the Racing UK Introductory Hurdle.

“Samarquand is a fine, big, scopey type who won his only bumper for us in the spring at Wincanton.

“While the form of that race has worked out well he is still a raw baby and ran green in the straight at Ludlow before buckling down well to see off the challenge of Burn Baby Byrne.

“He was barely blowing as he came back in and clearly has plenty of talent.

“Noel Fehily felt he got to the front too soon on Samarquand who ran in a hood for a reason and keeps the boys at home on their toes.

“It was a good introduction for him and he will have learned plenty from the experience.

“Bred by Alan King, he is an exciting horse for the future, particularly when he goes over fences, though we don’t have any fancy targets for him at this stage.”

Elsewhere, Colin Tizzard’s Elixir De Nutz got up to score last weekend, beating (5-1) beat Itchy Feet by a length and a quarter.

The Milborne Port handler said he had “a lot of business” to do on hurdles with Elixir De Nutz before moving to chasing.

Tizzard said: “I was just looking for excuses if he got beat because when the hurdles came, he was making up ground. He is just a beautiful, young horse – and he has got a bit of size about him.

“He will be a chaser, but we’ve got a bit of business to do over novice hurdles before then.”

There was more success for Tizzard when Master Debonair (3-1) held on by a neck to take the Listed High Sheriff Of Gloucestershire And Racing Remember Standard National Open National Hunt Flat Race. Tizzard said: “He travelled beautifully, almost too well. He stuck on well when they all came and had a go at him.”