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| Vincent O’Brien County Handicap Hurdle - Fri Mar 18th 2011 |
cheltenham festival / 2011 news /
Ruby Steers Final Approach to County Hurdle Victory
18/03/11
1 Final Approach 10/1
2 Get Me Out Of Here 7/1
3 Nearby 66/1
4 Cockney Trucker 33/1
26 ran
Willie Mullins saddled his third winner of the week and provided the Irish with a record 11th success of the meeting as Final Approach edged out Get Me Out Of Here in the Vincent O’Brien County Handicap Hurdle.
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Final Approach devoured ground on the climb to the line and only in the last stride did Tony McCoy’s mount collect a tight photo-finish by a nose.
Mullins said: “Ruby was tremendous there as he was nearly down at the first.
“He was out of the back all of the way and never got into it until late on when his Flat racing experience came into use. He made up ground hand over fist and he is an improving handicapper.
“He came there with one sweeping run and just got there.
“I thought we were beaten in the photo finish. I watched the re-run and still thought we were beaten. Watching Ruby and Tony pull up, I thought Tony looked happy and Ruby looked grumpy so I thought we were definitely beaten.
“It was a huge surprise and I think they are sometimes the best ones -the ones you don’t expect.
“He came out of Kevin Prendergast’s and is such a professional handicapper and he learned so much when Flat racing which is probably the key to winning here and in the MCR.
“We might try and have a go at one of the autumn handicaps on the Flat if we get a nice kick in the ground and he is improving all of the time.”
Walsh added: “I didn’t think I was getting anywhere as close after the first -I don’t know how he stood up as he stood off it so far. He came between the top bar and the middle bar and smashed the whole thing wide open.
“He did so well at get back into it and he was good and gutsy from the last.
“AP thought I had got him but I wasn’t so sure. I thought I might have got there maybe on the nod but that is luck -you win some and you lose some and it is great to get up.”
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Position |
Horse Trainer |
Jockey Weight |
Starting Price Beaten Distance |
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1 |
Final Approach W P Mullins |
R Walsh 10st 12lbs |
10 - 1 Winner |
|
2 |
Get Me Out Of Here Jonjo O'Neill |
A P McCoy 11st 7lbs |
7 - 1 Nose |
|
3 |
Nearby P J Hobbs |
C J Davies 11st 8lbs |
66 - 1 1 1/2 length |
|
4 |
Cockney Trucker P J Hobbs |
R Johnson 10st 7lbs |
33 - 1 1/2 length |
|
5 |
Salden Licht A King |
R Thornton 11st 12lbs |
25 - 1 Neck |
|
6 |
Alaivan E J O'Grady |
Andrew J McNamara 11st 3lbs |
10 - 1 Nose |
|
7 |
Blackstairmountain W P Mullins |
P Townend 11st 4lbs |
16 - 1 1 1/2 length |
|
8 |
Dirar G Elliott |
P Carberry 10st 11lbs |
8 - 1 Neck |
|
9 |
Ski Sunday Mrs L Hill |
S Thomas 11st 2lbs |
11 - 1 1/2 length |
|
10 |
Gloucester M Scudamore |
Conor O'Farrell 10st 3lbs |
66 - 1 3/4 length |
|
11 |
Soldatino N J Henderson |
B J Geraghty 11st 7lbs |
11 - 1 1 3/4 length |
|
12 |
Hunterview D Pipe |
Danny Cook 10st 12lbs |
33 - 1 3/4 length |
|
13 |
Zanir T R George |
P J Brennan 10st 7lbs |
25 - 1 Short Head |
|
14 |
Notus De La Tour D Pipe |
T Scudamore 11st 1lbs |
20 - 1 1 3/4 length |
|
15 |
Alarazi Mrs L Wadham |
D Elsworth 10st 4lbs |
6 - 1 Neck |
|
16 |
Inventor D McCain Jnr |
J M Maguire 10st 13lbs |
100 - 1 3/4 length |
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17 |
Premier Dane N G Richards |
F Davis 10st 2lbs |
66 - 1 3/4 length |
|
18 |
Secret Dancer A E Jones |
T O'Brien 10st 2lbs |
16 - 1 Nose |
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19 |
Spring Jim J R Fanshawe |
Felix de Giles 10st 6lbs |
40 - 1 7 lengths |
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20 |
Tarkari Evan Williams |
Paul Moloney 10st 9lbs |
66 - 1 2 1/4 lengths |
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21 |
Grey Soldier G Elliott |
D N Russell 10st 11lbs |
14 - 1 6 lengths |
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22 |
Ellerslie Tom Mrs A M Thorpe |
D Jacob 10st 6lbs |
125 - 1 42 lengths |
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Non Runner |
Snap Tie P J Hobbs |
R Johnson 11st 11lbs |
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|
Non Runner |
Cheshire Prince N B King |
Non Runner 10st 0lbs |
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GET ME OUT OF HERE BACK TO HIS BEST
A Tony McCoy drive just failed to lift Get Me Out Of Here home in the opener, but after a lean spell of form a nose second was good enough for trainer Jonjo O’Neill.
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“It took us ages to find out what was wrong, but he’s had an operation on his palate three weeks ago. When the vet did it he said he would be surprised if it didn’t make a big difference, although we might do another op in the summer.
“He’s run a blinder and it’s great to see him perform so well because it’s been so frustrating. We knew he was a good horse last year, and although he was beaten here [second in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle] that was a good performance.
“Hopefully, he’ll go to Aintree now, but what race he’ll run in I don’t know. He could run over two miles or three miles. He’ll probably go chasing next season -when we tried that this year he didn’t take to it, but it may have been that his palate was flipping.”
Philip Hobbs was pleased with the two of his three runners who finished in the frame, with Nearby taking third and Cockney Trucker finishing fourth.
Hobbs said: “I’m delighted really. At the end of the day they were both outsiders really and they’ve both run well.”
HOBBS DUO FILL THE FRAME
Philip Hobbs was pleased with the two of his three runners who finished in the frame, with Nearby taking third and Cockney Trucker finishing fourth.
Hobbs said: “I’m delighted really. At the end of the day they were both outsiders really and they’ve both run really well.”
Previous Results
VINCENT O'BRIEN COUNTY HANDICAP HURDLE
2010-WINNER-THOUSAND STARS 6-10-05 Owner-Hammer & Trowel Syndicate; Trainer-Willie Mullins IRE; Jockey-Miss Katie Walsh; SP-20/1
2ND-Arcalis 10-10-07 Owner-Andrea & Graham Wylie; Trainer-Howard Johnson; Jockey-Denis O’Regan; SP-33/1
3RD-Dee Ee Williams 7-10-09 Owner-Tullamore Dew; Trainer-Nick Gifford; Jockey-Liam Treadwell; SP-20/1
4TH-Zanir 6-10-06 Owner-Power Panels Electrical Systems Ltd; Trainer-Tom George; Jockey-Paddy Brennan; SP-50/1 28 ran, Time-4m 2.66s; Dist-3, 1¼, 1¾ 7/1 Fav Tito Bustillo (23rd)
2009-WINNER-AMERICAN TRILOGY 5-11-00 Owner-Fulton, Donlon, KIlduff & Scott-MacDonald; Trainer-Paul Nicholls; Jockey-Ruby Walsh; SP-20/1
2ND-Stradbrook 7-10-01 Owner-J P McManus; Trainer-Jonjo O’Neill; Jockey-Richard McLernon; SP-66/1
3RD-Cockney Trucker 7-10-09 Owner-Karola Vann; Trainer-Philip Hobbs; Jockey-Richard Johnson; SP-17/2
4TH-Nortonthorpe Lad 7-10-10 Owner-Don Jenkins; Trainer-Alison Thorpe; Jockey-Daryl Jacob; SP-50/1 27 ran, Time-4m 5.2s; Dist-11, 3¼, ½ 7/2 Fav Dave’s Dream (6th)
2008-WINNER-SILVER JARO 5-10-13 Owner-Miss M A Masterson; Trainer-Tom Hogan IRE; Jockey-Noel Fehily; SP-50/1
2ND-Psycho 7-10-12 Owner-C H McClure; Trainer-Tony Martin IRE; Jockey-Paul Carberry; SP-5/1 Fav
3RD-French Saulaie 7-11-03 Owner-Carol Skan; Trainer-Philip Hobbs; Jockey-Richard Johnson; SP-40/1
4TH-Rio De Janeiro 7-10-08 Owner-Fraser Miller Racing; Trainer-Emma Lavelle; Jockey-Paul Moloney; SP-66/1 22 ran, Time-4m 9.40s; Dist-3/4, 2¼, ½
2007-WINNER-PEDROBOB 9-10-00 Owner-Barry Connell; Trainer-Tony Mullins
IRE; Jockey-Philip Carberry; SP-12/1
2ND-Ouninpohja 6-10-00 Owner-Maggie Findlay; Trainer-Paul Nicholls; Jockey-Ruby
Walsh; SP-11/2
3RD-Premier Dane 5-10-00 Owner-Jim Ennis; Trainer-Nicky Richards; Jockey-Brian
Harding; SP-100/1
4TH-Kawagino 7-10-00 Owner-K Pike; Trainer-Seamus Mullins; Jockey-Wayne
Kavanagh; SP-20/1
28 ran, Time-3m 53.90s, Dist 1, nk, ¾ 3/1 Fav Fair Along (25th)
2006-WINNER-DESERT
QUEST 6-10-10 Owner-Maggie Findlay; Trainer-Paul
Nicholls; Jockey-Ruby Walsh; SP-4/1 Jt Fav
2ND-Noble Request 5-10-11 Owner-Karola Vann; Trainer-Philip Hobbs; Jockey-Richard
Johnson; SP-25/1
3RD-Adamant Approach 12-10-06 Owner-Greenstar Syndicate; Trainer-Willie
Mullins IRE; Jockey-Richard Kiely; SP-50/1
4TH-Pirate Flagship 7-10-01 Owner-Mark & Tessa Woodhouse; Trainer-Paul
Nicholls; Jockey-Paddy Brennan; SP-10/1
29 ran, Time-3m 52.70s, Dist-2.5, 3.5, 1 4/1 Jt Fav Studmaster (10th)
2005-WINNER-FONTANESI 5-10-00 Owner-David Johnson; Trainer-Martin Pipe;
Jockey-Timmy Murphy; SP-16/1
2ND-Stance 6-10-00 Owner-N J Jones; Trainer-Gary Moore; Jockey-David
Casey; SP-11/1
3RD-Borora 6-10-00 Owner-Mrs E M Clarke; Trainer-Richard Lee; Jockey-Tom
Doyle; SP-200/1
4TH-Grande Jete 8-10-02 Owner-Lee Westwood, A Chandler & Jeremy Hindley;
Trainer-Nicky Henderson; Jockey- Mick Fitzgerald; SP-14/1
30 ran, Time-4m 1.30s, Dist-2, 2, 1.5
2004-WINNER-SPORAZENE 5-10-13 Owner-Ged Mason & David
Jackson; Trainer-Paul Nicholls; Jockey-Ruby Walsh; SP- 7/1 Jt Fav
2ND-Hawadeth 9-9-07 Owner-Nicky Viney; Trainer-Victor Dartnall; Jockey-Mr
Tom Malone; SP-50/1
3RD-Copeland 9-10-01 Owner-Professor David and Mrs Heather Silk; Trainer-Martin
Pipe; Jockey-Jamie Moore; SP- 25/1
4TH-Balapour 6-10-00 Owner-Rita Shah; Trainer-Oliver Brady IRE; Jockey-Carl
Llewellyn; SP-12/1
23 ran, Time-4m 3.70s, Dist-.5, 1.5, nk 7/1 Jt Fav Harchibald (5th)
2003-WINNER-SPIRIT LEADER 7-11-07 Owner-Dil Thompson; Trainer-Jessica
Harrington IRE; Jockey-Barry Geraghty; SP-10/1
2ND-Balapour 5-10-00 Owner-Rita Shah; Trainer-Oliver Brady IRE; Jockey-Martin
Mooney; SP-25/1
3RD-Through The Rye 7-10-09 Owner-Nice To See You Euro-Racing); Trainer-Edwin
Tuer; Jockey-Graham Lee; SP-66/1
4TH-Non So 5-11-05 Owner-ROA Dawn Run Partnership; Trainer-Nicky Henderson;
Jockey-Mick FitzgGerald; SP-10/128 ran, Time-3m 58.60s, Dist-nk, shd,
5 5/1 Fav Mise Rafturai (PU)
2002-WINNER-ROOSTER BOOSTER 8-11-01 Owner-Terry Warner; Trainer-Philip
Hobbs; Jockey-Richard Johnson; SP-8/1
2ND-The Gatherer 8-10-06 Owner-J P McManus; Trainer-Arthur Moore IRE;
Jockey-Conor O’Dwyer; SP-12/1
3RD-Ben Ewar 8-10-01 Owner-Tony Richards; Trainer-Ken Cunningham-Brown;
Jockey-Barry Fenton; SP-50/1
4TH-Benbyas 5-10-00 Owner-C H Stephenson & Partners; Trainer-Les
Eyre; Jockey-Timmy Murphy; SP-12/1
21 ran, Time-4m 5.90s, Dist-1.25, .5, 7 2/1 Fav Polar Red (13th)
2001 - No Race (Foot and Mouth Disease)
2000-WINNER-MASTER TERN 5-10-03 Owner-J P McManus;
Trainer-Jonjo O’Neill;
Jockey-Tony Dobbin; SP-9/2 Fav
2ND Danegold 8-10-02 Owner-Circular Distributors Ltd; Trainer-Mick Channon;
Jockey-Timmy Murphy; SP-25/1
3RD Spokesman 6-10-02 Owner-Theresa McCoubrey; Trainer-Christy Roche
IRE Jockey-Paul Moloney; SP-10/1
4TH Auetaler 6-11-09 Owner-The Anfield Hombres; Trainer-Martin Pipe;
Jockey-Rodi Greene; SP-12/1
21 ran, Time-3m 51.30s Dist-nk, 1, 1
1999-WINNER-SIR TALBOT 5-10-00 Owner-Wally Sturt; Trainer-Jim Old; Jockey-Timmy
Murphy; SP-10/1
2ND-Decoupage 7-10-13 Owner-James Dean; Trainer-Charlie Egerton; Jockey-Norman
Williamson; SP-100/30 Fav
3RD-Toto Toscato 5-11-05 Owner-Hilda Clarke; Trainer-David Nicholson;
Jockey-Richard Johnson; SP-25/1
4TH-Sadler’s Realm 6-9-09 Owner-B D Racing; Trainer-Philip Hobbs;
Jockey-Robert Widger; SP-25/1
28 ran, Time- 3m 57.8s Dist-6, 10
1998-WINNER-BLOWING WIND 5-11-08 Owner-Peter Deal; Trainer-Martin Pipe;
Jockey-Tony McCoy; SP-15/8 Fav
2ND-Advocat 8-10-05 Owner-The High Street Racing Syndicate; Trainer-Noel
Meade IRE; Jockey-Paul Carberry; SP-12/1
3RD-Bless Me Sister 9-10-02 Owner-Bray Partners; Trainer-Richard Rowe;
Jockey-Darren O’Sullivan; SP-33/1
4TH-Barna Boy 10-11-06 Owner-Lynn Wilson; Trainer-Nicky Henderson; Jockey-Mick
FitzGerald;
SP-14/1 27 ran, Time- 3m 54.3s Dist-1.75, 2.5
1997-WINNER-BARNA BOY 9-10-12 Owner-Lynn Wilson; Trainer-Nicky Henderson;
Jockey-Richard Dunwoody; SP-14/1
2ND-Carlito Brigante 5-10-00 Owner-Lady Carole Bamford; Trainer-Paul
Webber; Jockey-Jamie Osborne; SP-13/2
3RD-Penny A Day 7-11-08 Owner-Ian Good; Trainer-Mary Reveley; Jockey-Peter
Niven; SP-15/2
4TH-Black Queen 6-10-04 Owner-Heinz Pollmeier; Trainer-John Kiely IRE;
Jockey-A J O’Brien;
SP-12/1 20 ran, Time-3m 58.9s, Dist-1, 3, 1 7/2 Fav Tidjani (5th)
1996-WINNER-STAR RAGE 6-10-00 Owner-David Abell; Trainer-Jimmy Harris;
Jockey-Dean Gallagher; SP-14/1
2ND-Romancer 5-11-03 Owner-Matt Archer & Jean Broadhurst; Trainer-Nigel
Twiston-Davies; Jockey-Carl Llewellyn; SP-8/1
3RD-Non Vintage 5-10-13 Owner-A Mann and Mrs T Mann; Trainer-Michael
Chapman; Jockey-Billy Worthington; SP-33/1
4TH-Cheryl’s Lad 6-11-05 Owner-Elaine Baines; Trainer-Nicky Henderson;
Jockey-John Kavanagh; SP-5/1 Fav
28 ran, Time-4m 0.8s, Dist-3, 3.5, 2.5
VINCENT O’BRIEN COUNTY HANDICAP
HURDLE ROLL OF HONOUR
(Vincent O’Brien County Handicap Hurdle since 1995, County Handicap
Hurdle 1990-1994, Racegoers Club County Handicap Hurdle 1989, County
Handicap Hurdle before 1989)
Year Winner Age/Wt Jockey Trainer Owner SP Ran
2010 Thousand Stars 6-10-05 Miss Katie Walsh Willie Mullins IRE Hammer & Trowel Syndicate 20/1 28
2009 American Trilogy 5-11-00 Ruby Walsh Paul Nicholls Fulton, Donlon, KIlduff & Scott-MacDonald 20/1 27
2008 Silver Jaro 5-10-13 Noel Fehily Tom Hogan IRE Miss M A Masterson 50/1 22
2007 Pedrobob 9-10-00 Philip Carberry Tony Mullins IRE Barry Connell
12/1 28
2006 Desert Quest 6-10-10 Ruby Walsh Paul Nicholls Maggie Findlay 4/1JF
29
2005 Fontanesi 5-10-00 Timmy Murphy Martin Pipe David Johnson 16/1 30
2004 Sporazene 5-10-13 Ruby Walsh Paul Nicholls Ged Mason & David
Jackson 7/1 JF 23
2003 Spirit Leader 7-11-07 Barry Geraghty Jessica Harrington IRE Dil
Thompson 10/1 28
2002 Rooster Booster 8-11-01 Richard Johnson Phillip Hobbs Terry Warner
8/1 21
2001 No Race (Foot and Mouth)
2000 Master Tern 5-10-03 Tony Dobbin Jonjo O’Neill J P McManus
9/2F 21
1999 Sir Talbot 5-10-00 Timmy Murphy Jim Old Wally Sturt 10/1 28
1998 Blowing Wind 5-11-08 Tony McCoy Martin Pipe Peter Deal 15/8F 27
1997 Barna Boy 9-10-12 Richard Dunwoody Nicky Henderson Lynn Wilson 14/1
20
1996 Star Rage 6-10-00 Dean Gallagher Jimmy Harris David Abell 14/1 28
1995 Home Counties 6-10-12 Jimmy Moffatt Dudley Moffatt Roxy Cinemas
(Dalton) Ltd 14/1 23
1994 Dizzy 6-10-00 Tony Dobbin Peter Monteith Lt Col Willie Monteith
12/1 24
1993 Thumbs Up 7-10-02 Richard Dunwoody Nicky Henderson Michael Buckley
16/1 21
1992 Dusty Miller 6-10-06 Jamie Osborne Simon Sherwood Watership Down
Racing 9/1 27
1991 Winnie The Witch 7-9-08 David Bridgwater Ken Bridgwater Paddocks
Thoroughbred Racing 33/1 26
1990 Moody Man 5-11-02 Peter Hobbs Philip Hobbs James Burley 9/1 20
1989 Willsford 6-10-08 Michael Bowlby Jenny Pitman Arnie Kaplan 11/1
21
1988 Cashew King 5-10-04 Trevor Wall Bryan McMahon Peter Moss 9/1 24
1987 Neblin 8-11-00 Richard Guest Toby Balding Skipper Leather 14/1 24
1986 Jobroke 6-10-03 Jonjo O'Neill Peter Easterby Lt Col Dick Warden
6/1F 29
1985 Floyd 5-10-05 Colin Brown David Elsworth Mike Walsh 5/2F 27
1984 Hill’s Guard 5-10-11 Andy Stringer Andy Scott G Shie 6/1 19
1983 Robin Wonder 5-10-03 Jim Davies David Elsworth Anthony Hunt 10/1 29
1982 Path Of Peace 6-10-06 Jonjo O'Neill Chris Thornton Louise Gold 4/1
23
1981 Staplestown 6-10-07 Tommy Ryan Edward O'Grady IRE Mrs I O’Sullivan
11/2F 25
1980 Prince Of Bermuda 5-10-00 Steve Knight Bob Turnell J Harnett 9/1
18
1979 Monte Ceco 6-10-12 Colin Tinkler Fred Rimell J Saunders Jones 6/1
20
1978 No race (Abandoned because of snow)
1977 Kilcoleman 5-10-07 Tommy Kinane Billy Boyers IRE P Clarke 14/1 26
1976 Java Fox 6-10-01 Mr George Jones Roy Cambidge J Caddick 16/1 13
1975 No race (Course waterlogged)
1974 True Song 5-11-02 Gary Old Donald Underwood Mrs J Underwood 14/1
20
1973 Current Romance 7-10-07 David Nicholson Frenchie Nicholson R Warmington
20/1 31
1972 Cold Day 6-10-08 Ron Hyett Katie Gaze Katie Gaze 15/1 25
1971 Carry Off 7-10-01 David Goulding Nigel Angus A M Picken 25/1 24
1970 Khan 6-9-11 Lord Petersham Miss Delmer Harty IRE Lord Petersham
100/8 32
1969 Gay Knight 5-10-03 Aly Branford Les Kennard L E Withers 100/7 27
1968 Jolly Signal 6-10-11 Jimmy Uttley Earl Jones Mrs D Crouch 6/1 16
1967 Cool Alibi 5-10-09 Roddy Reid Rodney Bower H A Moore 20/1 28
1966 Roaring Twenties 6-11-02 George Milburn Ken Oliver Mrs A L G Ogilvy
10/1 16
1965 Mayfair Bill 6-10-04 Andy Turnell Bob Turnell Jim Joel 33/1 19
1964 Icy Wonder 5-10-02 Jeff King Vernon Cross F J Hunt 11/2 17
1963 Bahrain 6-10-06 Tommy Carberry Dan Moore IRE Ted Sturman 11/2 19
1962 Sky Pink 5-10-11 Fred Winter Ryan Price Gerry Judd 100/8 20
1961 Most Unusual 6-10-07 Josh Gifford Bill Ransom Bill Ransom 100/7
23
1960 Albergo 6-12-05 Doug Page Clem Magnier IRE Mrs Clem Magnier 7/4F
26
1959 Approval 13-11-02 Derek Leslie Syd Mercer Syd Mercer 10/1 20
1958 Friendly Boy 6-10-05 Liam Brennan Joe Osborne IRE Mrs V Vanden Bergh
3/1F 18
1957 Flaming East 8-10-05 Peter Pickford Ricky Vallance Mrs Ricky Vallance
100/6 19
1956 Pommel 9-10-11 Steve Boddy Jack C Waugh Peter Shepherd 100/7 18
1955 No race (Abandoned because of snow)
1954 Bold Baby 8-12-00 Paddy Powell Michael Dawson IRE Michael Dawson
13/8F 14
1953 Teapot II 8-12-07 Pat Taaffe Clem Magnier IRE Mrs C Magnier 4/1
16
1952 Ballymacan 5-10-12 Bryan Marshall Neville Crump H D Waddington 100/7
21
1951 Southwick 7-10-03 George Spann J Whiting Sonny Hall 100/7 21
1950 Blue Raleigh 7-10-00 Jimmy Power Bobby Renton Lurline Brotherton
25/1 19
1949 No race (Abandoned because of frost)
1948 Cape Light 5-11-01 Joe Maguire Ivor Anthony Sir Humphrey de Trafford
2/1F 21
1947 No race (Abandoned because of snow and frost)
1946 Vidi 5-11-10 Don Butchers Reg Hobbs A E Saunders 6/1 2
