Betfair Exchange Chase |
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| (Registered as the Game Spirit Chase) Grade 2 Handicap, Newbury 15:00 £50,000 added, 5yo plus, 2m 92yds, Class 1  |
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| Saturday 13th February 2016 | |
1 Top Gamble 11/10F
2 Dodging Bullets 6/5
3 Captain Conan 15/2
NR: L'Ami Serge (IRE)
4 ran Distances: 10l, 27l, 75l
TIME 4m 20.10s (slow by 21.10s)
The well supported and aptly named Top Gamble wins the Game Spirit under Richard Johnson for Kerry Lee
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Top Gamble put up an authoritative display to take the scalp of Dodging Bullets at Newbury.
With Dodging Bullets having his first race since winning the Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham last March, Richard Johnson made the most of Top Gamble's fitness in the Grade Two heat, register ed as the Game Spirit Chase.
Drawing the sting out of Dodging Bullets, Top Gamble, who was backed down to 11-10 favourite, made plenty of the running and pulled clear to win by 10 lengths and continue a tremendous first season for trainer Kerry Lee.
Johnson said: "This horse loves really soft ground and stays very well.
"You thought conditions were slightly more in our favour if we were going to turn the tables on him (Dodging Bullets).
"Come March on better ground, I'm sure Dodging Bullets is going to have a better chance."
Lee said: "A brilliant performance from Top Gamble and Richard gave him a brilliant ride.
"He's really enjoyed this ground, he loves Newbury and the row of fences.
"He was a Grade Two winner already last season and the key to him is what we do at home.
"He does something different every day."
Betfair Exchange Chase
(Registered As The Game Spirit Chase) (Grade 2)
£50,000 added, 5yo plus, 2m 92y, Class 1
4 ran
Going: Soft, Heavy in places
| Pos | D | Horse SP | Jockey Weight | Trainer | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Top Gamble (IRE) 11/10f | R Johnson 11-5 |
Kerry Lee | 8 | |
| 2nd | 10 | Dodging Bullets 6/5 | Sam Twiston-Davies 11-10 |
P F Nicholls | 8 |
| 3rd | 27 | Captain Conan (FR) 15/2 | A Tinkler 11-10 |
N J Henderson | 9 |
| 4th | 75 | Un Beau Roman (FR) 50/1 | T J O'Brien 11-10 |
P Henderson | 8 |
| NR | L'Ami Serge (IRE) 9/2 | 2nd Preference 11-2 |
N J Henderson | 6 |
Betfair Exchange Chase – Roll of Honour
YEAR WINNER TRAINER JOCKEY AGE/WEIGHT SP RAN
2015 MR MOLE Paul Nicholls A P McCoy 07-11-06 7/2 5
2014 MODULE Tom George Paddy Brennan 07-11-02 11/8F 4
2013 WISHFULL THINKING Philip Hobbs Richard Johnson 10-11-06 4/1 6
2012 SPRINTER SACRE Nicky Henderson Barry Geraghty 06-11-05 2/5F 6
2011 FRENCH OPERA Nicky Henderson Barry Geraghty 08-11-05 7/2 7
2010 MASTER MINDED Paul Nicholls Ruby Walsh 07-11-10 8/13F 5
2009 Abandoned - Snow
2008 MASTER MINDED Paul Nicholls Ruby Walsh 05-11-04 7/4 6
2007 WELL CHIEF David Pipe Timmy Murphy 08-11-00 5/2 8
*2006 DON’T BE SHY Martin Pipe Timmy Murphy 05-10-11 5/4F 4
2005 AZERTYUIOP Paul Nicholls Ruby Walsh 08-11-10 11/10F 6
2004 AZERTYUIOP Paul Nicholls Ruby Walsh 07-11-05 4/11F 6
2003 KADARANN Paul Nicholls Joe Tizzard 06-11-04 5/1 5
2002 LADY CRICKET Martin Pipe A P McCoy 08-11-01 15/8 7
2001 FUNCTION DREAM Mary Reveley Anthony Ross 09-11-03 7/4 6
2000 FLAGSHIP UBERALLES Paul Nicholls Joe Tizzard 06-11-13 1/4F 3
1999 CELIBATE Charlie Mann Mick Fitzgerald 08-11-03 7/2 6
1998 ASK TOM Tom Tate Russ Garritty 09-11-10 13/8F 4
1997 DOUBLE SYMPHONY Charlie Brooks Jamie Osborne 09-10-12 4/5F 3
1996 VIKING FLAGSHIP David Nicholson Adrian Maguire 09-11-10 5/2 6
1995 NAKIR Simon Christian Jamie Osborne 07-11-10 5/2 3
1994 VIKING FLAGSHIP David Nicholson Adrian Maguire 07-11-10 3/1 5
1993 WATERLOO BOY David Nicholson Richard Dunwoody 10-11-07 9/4 5
1992 WATERLOO BOY David Nicholson Richard Dunwoody 09-11-10 10/11F 6
*Run at Lingfield Park after Newbury was abandoned because of frost
