Monet's Garden Old Roan Chase |
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| Limited Handicap, Aintree 15:30 £60,000 added, 4yo plus, 2m 4f, Class 1  |
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| Sunday 25th October 2015 | |
1 Sound Investment 7/1
2 Wishfull Thinking 7/1
3 Buywise 9/2
NR: Splash Of Ginge
10 ran Distances: ½l, 3¼l, 3¼l
TIME 4m 52.40s
Winner of the Old Roan Chase is Sound Investment ridden by Nick Scholfield trained by Paul Nicholls
Rajdhani Express pulled up after suffering a fatal injury
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There were scenes of wild celebration in the famous Aintree winner's enclosure after the victory of Sound Investment today.
Carrying the colours of the Owners Group 001, the Paul Nicholls-trained seven-year-old managed to repel last year's winner Wishfull Thinking in a barnstorming finish to the feature event on Merseyside.
The 7-1 shot navigated his way through the two-and-a-half-mile contest nimbly and efficiently under a well-judged ride from Nick Scholfield.
He was in front as the final fence loomed large and just as Wishfull Thinking was building up a head of steam, Sound Investment produced a monstrous leap to maintain the advantage.
The two battled all the way to the line, with the champion trainer's charge holding on by half a length, much to the delight of his army of owners.
Nicholls' assistant Tom Jonason said: "This has been his aim all season.
"We weren't expecting great things in the Silver Trophy at Chepstow as he's a chaser rather than a hurdler - that was all about giving him a prep run.
"The run brought him on and we expected him to run well, but it would have been ambitious to say he'd definitely win as it was such a competitive race.
"He'll probably get an entry in the BetVictor Gold Cup (Cheltenham) - he'll have to be aimed at those big handicaps now.
"If he was to come back here for something over the big fences it could be the Sefton in December, but we'll see."
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There was a sad postscript to the main event as Nicky Henderson's Rajdhani Express, a winner at the 2013 Cheltenham Festival and victorious over Aintree's Grand National fences in the Topham Chase in April, was pulled up having suffered a fatal injury.
Monet's Garden Old Roan Chase (Limited Handicap)
£60,000 added, 4yo plus, 2m 4f, Class 1
10 ran
Going: Good (Watered)
| Pos | D | Horse SP | Jockey Weight | Trainer | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Sound Investment (IRE) 7/1 | Nick Scholfield 11-3 |
P F Nicholls | 7 | |
| 2nd | ½ | Wishfull Thinking 7/1 | R Johnson 11-10 |
P J Hobbs | 12 |
| 3rd | 3¼ | Buywise (IRE) 9/2 | Paul Moloney 10-9 |
Evan Williams | 8 |
| 4th | 3¼ | Brave Spartacus (IRE) 25/1 | J Reveley 10-7 |
K G Reveley | 9 |
| 5th | 10 | Duke Of Navan (IRE) 7/1 | B P Harding 10-9 |
N G Richards | 7 |
| 6th | 3½ | Le Bacardy (FR) 12/1 | Harry Skelton 10-4 |
D Skelton | 9 |
| 7th | ½ | Lord Ben (IRE) 16/1 | J J Burke 10-7 |
H de Bromhead | 10 |
| 8th | 9 | Surf And Turf (IRE) 25/1 | B Hughes 10-6 |
Kevin Frost | 9 |
| PU | Rajdhani Express 8/1 | Mr S Waley-Cohen (3) 11-8 |
N J Henderson | 8 | |
| PU | Johns Spirit (IRE) 11/4f | R P McLernon 11-5 |
Jonjo O'Neill | 8 | |
| NR | Splash of Ginge 10/1 | Ryan Hatch (3) 10-11 |
N A Twiston-Davies | 7 |
