Betfair Exchange Game Spirit Chase |
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| Grade 2 Handicap, Newbury £85,000 guaranteed, 5yo plus, 2m 92yds, Class 1 |
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Evan Williams’ rising star, Libberty Hunter, will head to Newbury’s Game Spirit Chase after being withdrawn from the BetMGM Clarence House Chase, at Ascot on January 18, due to unsuitable ground conditions.
The progressive two-miler, who impressed with a strong performance as runner-up in the Grand Annual at last year’s Cheltenham Festival and a Grade One placing at Aintree, made a winning seasonal return at Prestbury Park in December.
That's how to mark your return!
— ITV Racing (@itvracing) December 14, 2024
Libberty Hunter takes the BetMGM Handicap Chase! 🥇#ITVRacing | @CheltenhamRaces | @CobdenHarry | @EWilliamsRacing pic.twitter.com/vB35Tr6Tkn
Williams had initially planned to test Libberty Hunter’s capabilities against formidable rivals like Jonbon and dual Champion Chase winner Energumene at Ascot. However, the drying ground at the Berkshire track prompted a change in strategy.
“The ground has dried far too much for him; it has gone good in places, and I’d imagine it will have dried considerably more by the weekend,” Williams explained. “He’s a soft-ground horse, and it’s disappointing, but that’s the way it goes.”
Instead, Libberty Hunter could now face another top contender in Sir Gino at Newbury’s Game Spirit Chase, provided the conditions are favorable.
“We’ll try to get to Newbury on February 8 for the Game Spirit. That’s what we will try to do, and we need cut in the ground, really. It’s a tough enough ask taking on these horses as it is, without running on ground he doesn’t want,” Williams added.
Currently priced at 33-1 for the Queen Mother Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival in March, Libberty Hunter’s upcoming performance at Newbury will offer further insight into his potential for the spring showcase.
Stay tuned for what promises to be an exciting clash at Newbury’s Game Spirit Chase!
Betfair Exchange Game Spirit Chase 2024
(Grade 2) £85,000 guaranteed,
5yo plus, 2m 92y, Class 1
4 ran
Going: Heavy, Soft in places
POS. FORM HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER JOCKEY SP
1 Edwardstone 10 11-8 Alan King Tom Cannon 11/10F
3 40 Funambule Sivola 9 11-8 Venetia Williams Charlie Deutsch 8/1
FELL
Boothill 9 11-6 Harry Fry Jonathan Burke 11/4
PU
Amarillo Sky 8 11-2 Joe Tizzard Brendan Powell 7/2
NR Editeur Du Gite 10 11-8 Gary Moore NON RUNNER
NR Calico 8 11-2 Dan Skelton NON RUNNER
Betfair Exchange Chase – Roll of Honour
YEAR WINNER TRAINER JOCKEY AGE/WEIGHT SP RAN
2024 EDWARDSTONE Alan King Tom Cannon 10 11-8 11/10F 4
2023 FUNAMBULE SIVAOLA Venetia Williams Charlie Deutsch 8 11-8 7/1 4
2022 FUNAMBULE SIVAOLA Venetia Williams Charlie Deutsch 7 11-00 9/4 4
2021 SCEAU ROYAL Alan King Daryl Jacob 9-11-00 3/1F 6
2020 ALTIOR Nicky Henderson Nico de Boinville 10-11-06 1/3F 6
2019 Abandoned - Equine Flu scare
2018 ALTIOR NJ Henderson Nico de Boinville 08-11-06 1/3F 3
2017 ALTIOR NJ Henderson Nico de Boinville 07-11-05 30/100F 4
2016 TOP GAMBLE Kerry Lee Richard Johnson 08-11-05 10/11F 4
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
