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Divers Makes Centenary Festival Splash
15/03/11

1 Divers 10/1
2 Quantitativeeasing 7/1
3 Tullamore Dew 13/2
4 Vino Griego 20/1
20 ran Distances: 2¾l, 2l, 1¼l
TIME 5m 7.50s (slow by 7.50s)

Ferdy Murphy’s excellent record at the Festival was embellished after he saddled Divers to win the closing race on day one.

Divers
© Grossick Racing Photography

Divers became the North Yorkshire-based Murphy’s tenth Festival success, and he said: “He’s a tough little horse and had his ears pricked coming to the last. He’ll take another race before too long.

“We wanted to go chasing with him last year, but he wasn’t quite mature enough. This season we took him to Towcester to get used to jumping big fences, and we did the same at Carlisle, and it was no disgrace to finish fifth to Time For Rupert here in November. He’s a nice horse with the right profile for a race like this.”

Winning jockey Graham Lee said: “That was pretty good, and the horse deserves huge credit. Ferdy wanted me to keep hold of him and I said no chance. I’ll stick close to the rail.

“He fenced beautifully and was very clever with his feet. He was close to the guard board at the ditch, but snapped his feet up. He had to want it.

“Winning any race at the Festival at any time of your career is very satisfying - it’s the tops.”

J P McManus, owner of second-placed Quantiativeeasing, said: “He ran a good race but we just weren’t good enough.”

Nick Gifford, trainer of third-placed Tullamore Dew, commented: “He ran a great race and I couldn’t have asked for any more. It was a fiercely competitive race with the good horses filling the first four places and I think mine wants a bit further now.

“Liam (Treadwell) said he was in top gear all the way and if we went to Aintree we’d probably step up to three miles if we got this ground.”

Position	Horse Trainer	Jockey Weight	Starting Price Beaten Distance
1	Divers Ferdy Murphy	G Lee 11st 4lbs	10 - 1 Winner
2	Quantitativeeasing N J Henderson	A P McCoy 11st 11lbs	7 - 1 2 3/4 lengths
3	Tullamore Dew N J Gifford	L Treadwell 11st 11lbs	13 - 2 2 lengths
4	Vino Griego G L Moore	J E Moore 11st 5lbs	20 - 1 1 1/4 length
5	Definity P F Nicholls	R Walsh 11st 8lbs	3 - 1 1 1/2 length
6	Tharawaat G Elliott	D N Russell 11st 9lbs	14 - 1 3/4 length
7	Swing Bill D Pipe	T J Murphy 11st 8lbs	14 - 1 1 1/4 length
8	On Borrowed Wings A Fleming	D Jacob 11st 8lbs	12 - 1 Head
9	Shakalakaboomboom N J Henderson	David Bass 11st 6lbs	33 - 1 1 3/4 length
10	Glenstal Abbey C F Swan	D J Casey 11st 7lbs	40 - 1 2 3/4 lengths
11	Nadiya De La Vega N J Henderson	B J Geraghty 11st 10lbs	20 - 1 6 lengths
12	Lastoftheleaders A L T Moore	Andrew J McNamara 11st 5lbs	25 - 1 2 lengths
13	Sway Jonjo O'Neill	R P McLernon 11st 4lbs	50 - 1 8 lengths

CENTENARY NOVICES’ HANDICAP CHASE PAST RESULTS

2010-WINNER-COPPER BLEU 8-11-01 Owner-Alan Peterson; Trainer-Philip Hobbs; Jockey-Richard Johnson; SP-12/1
2ND-Othermix 6-11-00 Owner-Power Panels Electrical Systems Ltd; Trainer-Tom George; Jockey-Paddy Brennan; SP-50/1
3RD-The Midnight Club 6-11-01 Owner-C C R Racing Syndicate; Trainer-Willie Mullins IRE; Jockey-Paul Townend; SP-16/1
4TH-China Rock 7-11-03 Owner-Michael O’Flynn; Trainer-Mouse Morris IRE; Jockey-Niall Madden; SP-9/1 20 ran, Time-5m 12.50s, Dist-3½ , ½, 3¾ 6/1 Fav Rivaliste (7th)

2009-WINNER-CHAPOTURGEON 5-10-11 Owner-David Johnson; Trainer-Paul Nicholls; Jockey-Timmy Murphy; SP-8/1
2ND-Isn’t That Lucky 6-10-07 Owner-Valda Burke; Trainer-Jonjo O’Neill; Jockey-Richard McGrath; SP-11/1
3RD-Crescent Island 6-11-02 Owner-Sarah Bays Jill Scott Sarah MacEchern; Trainer-Nigel Twiston-Davies; Jockey-Paddy Brennan; SP-25/1
4TH-Northern Alliance 8-11-04 Owner-Irish Rover Syndicate; Trainer-Tony Martin IRE; Jockey-Ruby Walsh; SP8/1 20 ran, Time-5m 16.44s, Dist-9, 2¼, 6 15/2 Fav Kia Kaha (10th)

2008-WINNER-FINGER ONTHE PULSE 7-10-12 Owner-Conor Clarkson; Trainer-Tom Taaffe IRE; Jockey-Barry Geraghty; SP-9/1
2ND-Barbers Shop 6-10-13 Owner-The Queen; Trainer-Nicky Henderson; Jockey-Mick Fitzgerald; SP-12/1
3RD-Possol 5-10-06 Owner-Neville Statham; Trainer-Henry Daly; Jockey-Mark Bradburne; SP-25/1
4TH-Fleet Street 9-10-12 Owner-Henry Ponsonby; Trainer-Nicky Henderson; Jockey-Andrew Tinkler; SP-66/1 20 ran, Time-5m 10.2s, Dist-nk, 1½, nse

2007-WINNER-L’ANTARTIQUE 7-10-11 Owner-Mary Durkan; Trainer-Ferdy Murphy; Jockey-Graham Lee; SP-20/1
2ND-Bob Hall 6-10-09 Owner-J P McManus; Trainer-Jonjo O’Neill; Jockey-Noel Fehily; SP-10/1
3RD-Wee Robbie 7-10-13 Owner-P H Betts (Holdings) Ltd; Trainer-Nick Gifford; Jockey-Leighton Aspell; SP-20/1
4TH-Rasharrow 8-10-10 Owner-Ashleybank Investments Limited; Trainer-Len Lungo; Jockey-Keith Mercer; SP-14/1
19 ran, Time-5m 10.70s, Dist-2, 2½, 4 7/2 Fav New Little Bric (7th)

2006-WINNER-REVEILLEZ 7-10-11 Owner-J P McManus; Trainer-James Fanshawe; Jockey-Tony McCoy; SP-9/2 Fav
2ND-Copsale Lad 9-11-00 Owner-Swallow Partnership; Trainer-Nicky Henderson; Jockey-Mick Fitzgerald; SP-8/1
3RD-Tumbling Dice 7-11-01 Owner-Mrs John Donegan; Trainer-Tom Taaffe IRE; Jockey-Barry Geraghty; SP-14/1
4TH-Direct Flight 8-10-04 Owner-Top Flight; Trainer-Noel Chance; Jockey-Paul Carberry; SP-25/1
18 ran, Time-5m 05.00s, Dist-1.25, 9, shd

2005-WINNER-KING HARALD 7-10-04 Owner-Piers Pottinger & PBJ Partnership; Trainer-Mark Bradstock; Jockey-Mattie Batchelor; SP-9/1
2ND-Lacdoudal 6-11-10 Owner-Carol Skan; Trainer-Philip Hobbs; Jockey-Richard Johnson; SP-12/1
3RD-See You Sometime 10-11-03 Owner-J A G Meaden; Trainer-Seamus Mullins; Jockey-Andrew Thornton; SP-12/1
4TH-Sir Oj 8-10-11 Owner-Brian Keenan; Trainer-Noel Meade IRE; Jockey-Paul Carberry; SP-18/1
19 ran, Time-5m 12.20s, Dist-12, 8, 2 8/1 Fav Captain Corelli (PU)

CENTENARY NOVICES’ HANDICAP CHASE ROLL OF HONOUR
(First running in 2005)

Year Winner Age/Wt Jockey Trainer Owner SP Ran

2010 Copper Bleu 8-11-01 Richard Johnson Philip Hobbs Alan Peterson 12/1 20
2009 Chapoturgeon 5-10-11 Timmy Murphy Paul Nicholls David Johnson 8/1 20
2008 Finger Onthe Pulse 7-10-12 Barry Geraghty Tom Taaffe IRE Conor Clarkson 9/1 20
2007 L’Antartique 7-10-11 Graham Lee Ferdy Murphy Mary Durkan 20/1 19
2006 Reveillez 7-10-11 Tony McCoy James Fanshawe J P McManus 9/2F 18
2005 King Harald 7-10-04 Mattie Batchelor Mark Bradstock Piers Pottinger & P B-J Partnership 9/1 19