Regent’s Stroll scores on hurdling debut at Newbury

The five-year-old became the most expensive jumps sale purchase in history after being bought back in by his trainer Paul Nicholls for £660,000.

The 4/11 favourite, carrying the colours of part-owner Sir Alex Ferguson for the first time, jumped well during his seasonal reappearance and hurdling debut under Harry Cobden apart from a blunder two flights from the finish.

But he recovered and passed the post with nine and a half lengths in hand over Warren Greatrex’s staying-on Aintree bumper third Good And Clever.

Nicholls told Sky Sports Racing: “If he hadn’t done that (mistake), how far would he have won?

“It’s good to see them make mistakes, recover and win well. He’s a horse with huge potential and huge ability and we just need to get experience into him.

“He can win over two or two and a half (miles). I was saying the way he won his bumpers that he’d want two and a half and the further he goes the better he goes, but I haven’t got a definite plan.”

Cobden added: “He’s obviously got serious talent. I actually wasn’t that happy with the way we went through the race because I was doing far too much on the way round.

“It wasn’t ideal and then he’s just stepped at the second-last and made a hell of a mistake – he was lucky to stand up. But he’s got a serious engine, hasn’t he?”