Randox Health Topham Chase |
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| Grade 3 Handicap, Aintree 16:05 £140,000 added, 5yo plus, 2m 5f 19y, Class 1  |
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| Friday 13th April 2018 | |
1 Ultragold 14/1
2 Shanahan's Turn 14/1
3 Theatre Territory 10/1
4 Kilcrea Vale 12/1
5 Ballyalton 11/1
27 ran NR: Art Mauresque, Highland Lodge, Vibrato Valtat
Distances: 3¾l, 6l, 8l
Ultragold does it again and wins for Harry Cobden and Colin Tizzard
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Ultragold, trained by Colin Tizzard for Brocade Racing, John Romans and Terry Warner, landed the Randox Health Topham Handicap Chase for the second year running.
The 10-year-old, once again by Harry Cobden, beat his stablemate, Shanahan's Turn, by three and three-quarters of a length, with Theatre Territory a further six lengths back in third. Kilcrea Vale took fourth, eight lengths further behind.
Joe Tizzard, assistant to his father, said of the stable's one-two over the Grand National fences: "That was brilliant - I didn't know which one to shout for. To come back and do it again with Ultragold is wonderful. He's just a completely different horse over these fences and he jumps for fun.
"I think Harry had the time of his life, again, and he said last year that it was the best ride he'd had. You can see him smiling as he pulls up. He's a very accomplished young man now and you could see him thinking it out during the race.
"It was great to see Shanahan's Turn run so well - we thought he was back to a winnable mark.
"His [Ultragold's] three best runs in the last 12 months have been around Aintree - he ran well at the December meeting here [when second to Randox Health Grand National hopeful Gas Line Boy], and there have been the two Topham wins."
Cobden said: "I think I enjoyed that more than last year - there were no horses around me and I was able to take it all in. He jumped from fence to fence.
"I got a really good start, he pinged the first, pinged the second, winged The Chair, and where he was jumping so well I could just sit up and take a pull on him here and there, to keep filling him up.
Round here he's pricking his ears and taking on the fences - he's a joy to ride."
Randox Health Topham Chase (Grade 3 Handicap)
£120,000 added, 5yo plus, 2m 5f 19y, Class 1
27 ran
Going: Heavy, Soft in places
| Pos | D | Horse SP | Jockey Weight | Trainer | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Ultragold (FR) 14/1 | Harry Cobden 11-1 |
C L Tizzard | 10 | |
| 2nd | 3¾ | Shanahan's Turn (IRE) 14/1 | R M Power 10-8 |
C L Tizzard | 10 |
| 3rd | 6 | Theatre Territory (IRE) 10/1 | Mr S Waley-Cohen (3) 10-6 |
W Greatrex | 8 |
| 4th | 8 | Kilcrea Vale (IRE) 12/1 | J McGrath 10-9 |
N J Henderson | 8 |
| 5th | 2½ | Ballyalton (IRE) 11/1 | T J O'Brien 10-12 |
Ian Williams | 11 |
| 6th | 1½ | Clarcam (FR) 16/1 | D N Russell 11-9 |
G Elliott | 8 |
| 7th | nse | Indian Temple (IRE) 50/1 | Harry Reed (5) 10-6 |
T Reed | 9 |
| 8th | 7 | Top Gamble (IRE) 12/1 | James Bowen (3) 11-10 |
Kerry Lee | 10 |
| 9th | 9 | Polidam (FR) 9/1f | D A Jacob 11-6 |
W P Mullins | 9 |
| 10th | 3¼ | Flying Angel (IRE) 10/1 | Thomas Bellamy 11-8 |
N A Twiston-Davies | 7 |
| 11th | 16 | Mystifiable 12/1 | P J Brennan 10-0 |
F O'Brien | 10 |
| 12th | 5 | Deauville Dancer (IRE) 50/1 | B Hughes 10-10 |
David Dennis | 7 |
| 13th | 49 | Eastlake (IRE) 33/1 | B J Geraghty 11-1 |
Jonjo O'Neill | 12 |
| 14th | 71 | Devils Bride (IRE) 66/1 | J J Slevin (3) 11-12 |
H de Bromhead | 11 |
| Also Ran: O O Seven (IRE) , Village Vic (IRE) , Bouvreuil (FR) , Midnight Shot , Bigbadjohn (IRE) , Beau Bay (FR) , Rathlin Rose (IRE) , Notarfbad (IRE) , Minella On Line (IRE) , Newsworthy (IRE) , Rogue Angel (IRE) , Greybougg , Flying Eagle (IRE) | |||||
| NR | Art Mauresque (FR) | Nick Scholfield 11-9 |
P F Nicholls | 8 | |
| NR | Vibrato Valtat (FR) | Adam Wedge 11-5 |
Miss E C Lavelle | 9 | |
| NR | Highland Lodge (IRE) | Henry Brooke 10-9 |
James Moffatt | 12 | |
