Randox Health Topham Chase
Grade 3 Handicap,
Aintree 16:05
£140,000 added, 5yo plus,
2m 5f 19y, Class 1   
Friday 13th April 2018

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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

Ultragold
© Racehorse Photos

Ultragold
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.
 
"I saw a loose horse coming at the Canal Turn, but he's such an easy horse to ride that I could just take a pull and let the loose horse jump the fence ahead of me. He went straight on and I cut the bend. He enjoys this a lot more than handicaps at other courses. 
 
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 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 Ballyalton (IRE) 11/1 T J O'Brien
10-12
Ian Williams 11
6th 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 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

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