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Chapoturgeon Turns on the Style
12/03/09

1st (13) Chapoturgeon 8/1
2nd (17) Isn't That Lucky 11/1
3rd (4) Crescent Island 25/1
4th (2) Northern Alliance 8/1

Straw Bear - 5th
© racing-images.co.uk

Day three of The Festival got off to the perfect start for champion trainer Paul Nicholls when 8/1 chance Chapoturgeon landed the opening Jewson Novices’ Handicap Chase in impressive fashion under Timmy Murphy in the colours of David Johnson.

The five-year-old was travelling like the winner at the top of the hill and pulled right away to record a comfortable nine-length victory.

Paul Nicholls said: “The horse did it well.

“He fell first time over fences and then finished second to Araldur at Warwick.

“The race he won at Doncaster last time was moderate but at least that meant he was on a decent mark for today.

“It was always the plan to step him up in trip. Ruby (Walsh) said after he ran in the Fred Winter last year that the horse wants two and a half miles - he is crying out for it.

“He has been declared for the Grand Annual tomorrow but won’t run. He will have no chance in handicaps after that so we will look for a novice chase over two and a half miles for him now. There should be plenty of races for him.”

Winning jockey Timmy Murphy added: "He hasn't got much experience but he guessed the first a little bit but I don't think he has ever gone that fast to a fence.

"All the credit goes to Paul. He has done a good job and he knew that we had a favourable mark and it's not often that you do coming here. He's in great form and this lad has jumped absolutely fabulous.

"Paul had no doubt about him staying but it was a strong pace and it was a long way to commit turning in off that good gallop. He just got a bit tight at the second last but, on the whole, he has jumped very, very well.”

The successful owner David Johnson added: "All credit to Paul. I thought he was a two-miler but Paul said he'd get a trip. I listened to him and I'm pleased I did. He was right and I was wrong. Paul's laid the horse out for the race and it has all come good."

William Hill rate Chapoturgeon a 14/1 chance for glory in next year’s Ryanair Chase.

Position	Horse Trainer	Jockey Weight	Starting Price Beaten Distance
1	Chapoturgeon P F Nicholls	T J Murphy 10st 11lbs	8 - 1 Winner
2	Isn't That Lucky Jonjo O'Neill	R McGrath 10st 7lbs	11 - 1 9 lengths
3	Crescent Island N A Twiston-Davies	P J Brennan 11st 2lbs	25 - 1 2 1/4 lengths
4	Northern Alliance A J Martin	R Walsh 11st 4lbs	8 - 1 6 lengths
5	Straw Bear N J Gifford	N Fehily 11st 2lbs	33 - 1 7 lengths
6	Tranquil Sea E J O'Grady	A J McNamara 11st 2lbs	8 - 1 4 lengths
7	Pancake P J Hobbs	R Johnson 10st 9lbs	25 - 1 2 1/4 lengths
8	Astarador J Howard Johnson	Denis O'Regan 10st 12lbs	18 - 1 3 3/4 lengths
9	Slash And Burn C F Swan	D N Russell 11st 0lbs	20 - 1 2 lengths
10	Kia Kaha Jonjo O'Neill	A P McCoy 11st 1lbs	15 - 2 1 1/4 length
11	Auroras Encore Mrs S J Smith	Tjade Collier 10st 9lbs	20 - 1 1 1/2 length
12	Ring The Boss P J Hobbs	T J O'Brien 11st 10lbs	22 - 1 1 3/4 length
13	Bohemian Lass W Harney	J Cullen 10st 5lbs	40 - 1 distance
14	Quws Law Miss Lucinda V Russell	P Buchanan 10st 6lbs	80 - 1 9 lengths
na	Naiad du Misselot Ferdy Murphy	G Lee 11st 1lbs	8 - 1
na	Exmoor Ranger V R A Dartnall	Christian Williams 11st 0lbs	14 - 1
na	Back On The Road A L T Moore	A P Crowe 10st 5lbs	25 - 1
na	Jaamid N Meade	P Carberry 10st 7lbs	33 - 1
na	Au Courant N J Henderson	B J Geraghty 11st 1lbs	20 - 1
na	The Vicar Miss H C Knight	D Elsworth 10st 11lbs	14 - 1

TWISTON-DAVIES PLEASED WITH CRESCENT

Trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies was delighted with the efforts of Crescent Island, who finished third in the Jewson Novices’ Handicap Chase after racing prominently through the race.

“He was giving weight away to the first two and at the top of the hill I thought he might just get it,” said Twiston-Davies. “It was his first time in blinkers, they just made him concentrate a bit, and I was delighted with his run.

“He’s going to make a lovely staying chaser and we’ll run him through to the end of the season, because he’ll lose his novice status after that.”

JEWSON NOVICES’ HANDICAP CHASE PAST RESULTS

2008-WINNER-FINGER ONTHE PULSE

2007-WINNER-L’ANTARTIQUE 7-10-11 Owner-Mary Durkan; Trainer-Ferdy Murphy; Jockey-Graham Lee; SP-20/1
2ND-Bob Hall 6-10-09 Owner-J P McManus; Trainer-Jonjo O’Neill; Jockey-Noel Fehily; SP-10/1
3RD-Wee Robbie 7-10-13 Owner-P H Betts (Holdings) Ltd; Trainer-Nick Gifford; Jockey-Leighton Aspell; SP-20/1
4TH-Rasharrow 8-10-10 Owner-Ashleybank Investments Limited; Trainer-Len Lungo; Jockey-Keith Mercer; SP-14/1
19 ran, Time-5m 10.70s, Dist-2, 2½, 4 7/2 Fav New Little Bric (7th)

2006-WINNER-REVEILLEZ 7-10-11 Owner-J P McManus; Trainer-James Fanshawe; Jockey-Tony McCoy; SP-9/2 Fav
2ND-Copsale Lad 9-11-00 Owner-Swallow Partnership; Trainer-Nicky Henderson; Jockey-Mick Fitzgerald; SP-8/1
3RD-Tumbling Dice 7-11-01 Owner-Mrs John Donegan; Trainer-Tom Taaffe IRE; Jockey-Barry Geraghty; SP-14/1
4TH-Direct Flight 8-10-04 Owner-Top Flight; Trainer-Noel Chance; Jockey-Paul Carberry; SP-25/1
18 ran, Time-5m 05.00s, Dist-1.25, 9, shd

2005-WINNER-KING HARALD 7-10-04 Owner-Piers Pottinger & PBJ Partnership; Trainer-Mark Bradstock; Jockey-Mattie Batchelor; SP-9/1
2ND-Lacdoudal 6-11-10 Owner-Carol Skan; Trainer-Philip Hobbs; Jockey-Richard Johnson; SP-12/1
3RD-See You Sometime 10-11-03 Owner-J A G Meaden; Trainer-Seamus Mullins; Jockey-Andrew Thornton; SP-12/1
4TH-Sir Oj 8-10-11 Owner-Brian Keenan; Trainer-Noel Meade IRE; Jockey-Paul Carberry; SP-18/1
19 ran, Time-5m 12.20s, Dist-12, 8, 2 8/1 Fav Captain Corelli (PU)

JEWSON NOVICES’ HANDICAP CHASE ROLL OF HONOUR
(First running in 2005)
Year Winner Age/Wt Jockey Trainer Owner SP Ran
2008 FInger Onthe Pulse
2007 L’Antartique 7-10-11 Graham Lee Ferdy Murphy Mary Durkan 20/1 19
2006 Reveillez 7-10-11 Tony McCoy James Fanshawe J P McManus 9/2F 18
2005 King Harald 7-10-04 Mattie Batchelor Mark Bradstock Piers Pottinger & P B-J Partnership 9/1 19