Cape Tribulation Takes Pertemps Final

1 Cape Tribulation 14/1
2 Catch Me 14/1
3 Cantlow 33/1
4 Houblon Des Obeaux 33/1
24 ran Distances: ¾l, 1¼l, 1¾l
TIME 5m 44.30s (slow by 3.30s)

An emotional Malcolm Jefferson welcomed Cape Tribulation into the Cheltenham winner’s enclosure after landing the Pertemps Final under Denis O’Regan. It was Jefferson’s third Festival success and his first since Dato Star captured the Weatherbys Champion Bumper in 1995.

“This means everything, it’s why we get up in the morning,” said Jefferson, who is based at Malton in North Yorkshire. “We don’t have a lot of money to spend, you just have to hope you can get to the big meetings and crack it, but you need so much luck.

“We won this race with Tindari in 1994, then Dato Star won the bumper a year later. The following year Go-Informal was touched off in the Sun Alliance Hurdle but we might as well have stayed at home in Malton with anything we’ve run since then.

“It’s very hard to come down from the north and win here. You should have separate handicaps for the north and south because we are a stone too high coming down here.

“Cape Tribulation won his first two novice hurdles and then the River Don and he was given a rating of 150 so was completely stuffed. We then sent him over fences and I don’t think he really liked them. He’s not gutless but just jumps hurdles much better than fences.

“When I put him back over hurdles at home you could tell he probably like hurdles better than fences. He has always been a talented horse and Denis (O’Regan) gave him a brilliant ride. I honestly thought that if everything went right then he had a great chance today.”

Jockey Denis O’Regan retraced his steps to come up with the winner of the Pertemps Final, Cape Tribulation, who carried the colours of owner David Abell.

O’Regan is no longer based in the north of England, but this was his third Festival winner all on horses from that region. His previous winners were Tidal Bay (Racing Post Arkle Trophy) and Inglis Drever (Ladbrokes World Hurdle) which were gained during his time as first jockey to Durham-based Howard Johnson. He had three season with that former trainer, but went freelance in April ,2010.

The winning jockey said of Cape Tribulation: “We were never quite sure he would stay three miles, but he’s a class horse. Today I wasn’t too happy early on and it took him a while to warm up, which may have preserved a bit for the end. He was in the zone jumping the last, and it’s been a while since he’s been in front so perhaps that’s why he was idling.

“I’ve been fortunate to ride some amazing horses during my career, and when you lose it all very quickly you have to start again. I’ve had great satisfaction from rebuilding my career and I’ve been supported by friends and colleagues. I’ve kept my contacts in the north and I’m glad I did because it’s given me another Festival winner. Every winner counts now and I appreciate every single one of them.

“Malcolm Jefferson has always been a talented trainer and he told me some time ago this was the plan for this horse.

“It means a lot to have a winner here - I suppose I haven’t had one for a long time. Malcolm Jefferson has been very good and he’s a great little horse. He had a lovely run at Haydock last time and it’s a great training performance to get him here in this kind of form.”

Abell said: “Malcom has always thought he was a good horse, and don’t forget he won a Grade Two race at Doncaster by 20l but he went downhill from there. He didn’t seem to like chases so Malcolm suggested we put him back over hurdles.

“I thought that Denis rode him beautifully. He brought him through at the right time and the horse stayed the trip, which I was a bit worried about.

“I am thrilled for Malcolm because he has got a small stable and one or two of his owners have cut back. He’s won one or two big races this year at Wetherby and Haydock so this will put the cap on it.”

Position	Horse Trainer	Jockey Weight	Starting Price Beaten Distance
1	Cape Tribulation J M Jefferson	D F O'Regan 10st 11lbs	14 - 1 Winner
2	Catch Me E J O'Grady	A P McCoy 10st 9lbs	14 - 1 3/4 length
3	Cantlow P R Webber	D Elsworth 10st 8lbs	33 - 1 1 1/4 length
4	Houblon Des Obeaux Miss V Williams	Aidan Coleman 10st 9lbs	33 - 1 1 3/4 length
5	Reindeer Dippin D McCain Jnr	Henry Brooke 10st 8lbs	40 - 1 14 lengths
6	Rick D T Hughes	Bryan J Cooper 10st 12lbs	28 - 1 3/4 length
7	Bellflower Boy Dr R D P Newland	Jack Quinlan 10st 6lbs	25 - 1 Neck
8	Kayf Aramis N A Twiston-Davies	S Twiston-Davies 10st 7lbs	40 - 1 2 3/4 lengths
9	Russian War G Elliott	P Carberry 11st 2lbs	33 - 1 1 1/4 length
10	Prince Erik D K Weld	D J Condon 10st 6lbs	25 - 1 Neck
11	Restless Harry R Dickin	C Poste 11st 12lbs	16 - 1 Short Head
12	Palace Jester Jonjo O'Neill	R P McLernon 10st 8lbs	66 - 1 3 lengths
13	Buena Vista D Pipe	Thomas Bellamy 10st 9lbs	7 - 1 3 lengths
14	Pineau De Re P Fenton	B Hayes 10st 9lbs	16 - 1 2 3/4 lengths
15	Our Father D Pipe	T J Murphy 11st 3lbs	11 - 2 37 lengths
16	Sergent Guib's W P Mullins	R Walsh 10st 12lbs	8 - 1 2 1/4 lengths
17	Pettifour N A Twiston-Davies	William Twiston-Davies 10st 12lbs	33 - 1 7 lengths
18	Ashkazar D Pipe	F J Hayes 11st 10lbs	50 - 1 7 lengths
PulledUp	Sir Kezbaah J Scott	Nick Scholfield 10st 12lbs	33 - 1
Fell	Sonofvic P F Nicholls	D A Jacob 10st 10lbs	16 - 1
PulledUp	Across The Bay D McCain Jnr	J M Maguire 10st 9lbs	16 - 1
PulledUp	Barwell Bridge W Greatrex	N Fehily 10st 7lbs	10 - 1
PulledUp	Thehillofuisneach Jonjo O'Neill	B J Geraghty 10st 7lbs	12 - 1
PulledUp	Scotsbrook Cloud P D Evans	Michael Byrne 10st 6lbs	66 - 1

CATCH ME JUST FAILS TO CATCH CAPE TRIBULATION

Champion jockey A P McCoy was just three-quarters of a length away from grabbing his first Festival winner for 2012 but ultimately had to settle for second aboard the Edward O’Grady-trained 10-year-old Catch Me.

O’Grady said: “It’s nice to see him run so well, rather than to be frustrated by going so close and not winning.

“This is probably the best race he’s run around Cheltenham. I think the fact that he’s 11lb higher here than he is in Ireland might have made a difference, but on the other hand he probably wouldn’t have got into the race [on his Irish mark] so it’s a catch-22 situation.

“He did stay very well but the jockey felt that the nearer the line he got the less likely he was to beat the winner.”

Paul Webber, trainer of third-placed Cantlow, said: “It was a super run but the ground after the watering was a bit soft for him. He ran a great race at Aintree on good ground last year so this hasn’t helped him.

“Dominic [Elsworth, jockey] had to switch him wide off the worst ground but he’s stayed on very well and we’ll hopefully go and find better ground at Liverpool.”

1. The Pertemps Final (Handicap Hurdle) was introduced to The Festival in 1974, replacing the George Duller Handicap Hurdle. Until 1993, it was run under the Coral banner. Other sponsors since then have been American Express (1993), Hamlet Cigars (1994 & 1996), Astec Vodafone (1995), Hamlet Extra Mild Cigars (1997), Unicoin Homes (1998) and Stakis Casinos (1999). Ladbrokes inherited sponsorship in 2000 after acquiring Stakis Casinos and Pertemps took over in 2002.

2. The Pertemps Final (Handicap Hurdle) is the final of the Pertemps series. The scheduled qualifiers for the 2011/12 season are - Cheltenham (October 14), Aintree (October 23), Kempton Park (October 31), Auteuil (November 6), Exeter (November 9), Newbury (November 25), Sandown Park (December 3), Cagnes sur Mer (December 19), Wincanton (December 26), Leopardstown (January 15), Cagnes Sur Mer (January 8), Warwick (January 14), Pau (January 15), Huntingdon (January 27), Pau (February 3), Punchestown (February 5), Carlisle (February 8) and Haydock Park (February 18). 3. The smallest field was 17 in 1976 when Good Prospect won at 10/1.

4. Willie Wumpkins won in three consecutive years from 1979-81 when 11,12 &13. He died in 1995 at the ripe old age of 27. Buena Vista, the winner in 2010 and 2011, will attempt to equal that great record this year.

5. Forgive ’N’ Forget is the only totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup winner to have won what is now the Pertemps Final, beating 22 rivals in 1983 and going on to take the Gold Cup two years later.

6. There have been two 50/1 winners in the last eight runnings, with Creon in 2004 and Kadoun in 2006 scoring for the bookies.

2011-WINNER-BUENA VISTA 10-10-03 Owner-Matt Archer & the late Jean Broardhurst; Trainer-David Pipe; Jockey-Conor O’Farrell; SP-20/1
2ND-Son Amix 5-10-06 Owner-Whitechurch Stud Syndicate; Trainer-Tom Cooper; Jockey-Paul Carberry; SP-16/1
3RD-Sivota 7-10-07 Owner-Second Go Syndicate; Trainer-Willie Mullins IRE; Jockey-Ruby Walsh; SP-9/1
4TH-Knockara Beau 8-11-12 Owner-W F Trueman; Trainer-George Charlton; Jockey-Jan Faltejsek; SP-33/1
23 ran, Time-5m 40.10s; Dist-4, hd, 10 6/1 Fav Chartreux (13th)

2010-WINNER-BUENA VISTA 9-10-01 Owner-Matt Archer & the late Jean Broardhurst; Trainer-David Pipe; Jockey-Hadden Frost; SP-16/1 2ND-Prince Erik 6-10-08 Owner-Dr Ronan Lambe; Trainer-Dermot Weld IRE; Jockey-Robbie Power; SP-16/1 3RD-Chamirey 7-10-04; Owner-Sir Robert Ogden; Trainer-Alan King; Jockey-Wayne Hutchinson; SP-28/1 4TH-Cross Kennon 6-10-03 Owner-P & Mrs G Clarke; Trainer-Jennie Candlish; Jockey-Alan Keeffe; SP-16/1 24 ran, Time-5m 49.10s, Dist-5, hd, 1½ 11/4 Fav Alfie Sherrin (12th)

2009-KAYF ARAMIS 7-10-05 Owner-Isobel Phipps Coltman; Trainer-Venetia Williams; Jockey-Aidan Coleman; SP-16/1
2ND-Buena Vista 8-10-09 Owner-Matt Archer & the late Jean Broadhurst; Trainer-David Pipe; Jockey-Tom Scudamore; SP-10/1
3RD-Pennek 6-10-11; Owner-H D Read; Trainer-Alan King; Jockey-Robert Thornton; SP-9/1
4TH-The Sliotar 8-10-00 Owner-Roger Brookhouse; Trainer-David Pipe; Jockey-Danny Cook; SP-33/1 22 ran, Time-6m 2.70s, Dist-2, nk, 1¼ 7/1 Fav Ballydub (12th)

2008-WINNER-BALLYFITZ 8-10-08 Owner-Fred & Wayne Mills; Trainer-Nigel Twiston-Davies; Jockey-Paddy Brennan; SP-18/1
2ND-Miko De Beauchene 8-10-08 Owner-Andrew Wiles; Trainer-Robert & Sally Alner; Jockey-Robert Walford; SP-7/1 Jt Fav
3RD-According To Pete 7-10-06 Owner-P Nelson; Trainer-Malcolm Jefferson; Jockey-Fergus King; SP-33/1
4TH-Mobaasher 5-11-01 Owner-Seasons Holidays; Trainer-Paul Nicholls; Jockey-Ruby Walsh; SP-12/1 24 ran, Time-6m 2.13s; Dist-3, 2¼, nk 7/1 Jt Fav Robin Du Bois (8th)

2007-WINNER-OSCAR PARK 8-10-09 Owner-George Ward; Trainer-David Arbuthnot; Jockey-Tom Doyle; SP-14/1
2ND-Material World 9-10-09 Owner-Southern Bloodstock; Trainer-Suzy Smith; Jockey-Colin Bolger; SP-14/1
3RD-Adamant Approach 13-10-13 Owner-Greenstar Syndicate; Trainer-Willie Mullins IRE; Jockey-Paddy Mullins; SP-16/1
4TH-Mistanoora 8-10-00 Owner-Nigel Twiston Davies; Trainer-Nigel Twiston-Davies; Jockey-Tony Evans; SP-33/1
24 ran, Time-5m 46.20s, Dist-½, 3½, ½ 13/2 Fav Kadoun (18th)

2006-WINNER-KADOUN 9-11-07 Owner-J P McManus; Trainer-Michael O’Brien IRE; Jockey-Tom Ryan; SP-50/1
2ND-Hordago 6-10-02 Owner-S Braddish; Trainer-Eric McNamara IRE; Jockey-Brian Byrnes; SP-10/1
3RD-Oodachee 7-11-05 Owner-Modreeny Syndicate; Trainer-Charlie Swan; Jockey-David Casey; SP-10/1
4TH-Liberman 8-10-08 Owner-David Johnson; Trainer-Martin Pipe; Jockey-Jamie Mackay; SP-20/1
24 ran, Time-5m 46.90s, Dist-1.5, 3.5, 1.25 4/1 Oulart (8th)

2005-WINNER-OULART 6-10-02 Owner-Ged Pierse; Trainer-Dessie Hughes IRE; Jockey-Paul Carberry; SP-10/1
2ND-Mioche D’Estruval 5-10-00 Owner-Joe Moran; Trainer-Martin Pipe; Jockey-Tom Scudamore; SP-66/1
3RD Quick 5-11-00 Owner-Kinsford Champagne Partnership; Trainer-Martin Pipe; Jockey-Andrew Glassonbury; SP-50/1
4TH-Touch Closer 8-10-07 Owner-Vicky Scott; Trainer-Vicky Scott; Jockey-Mick Fitzgerald; SP-66/1
22 ran, Time-5m 52.90s, Dist-2, 4, 1.25 7/2 Fav Ravenswood (15th)

2004-WINNER-CREON 9-10-00 Owner-J P McManus; Trainer-Jonjo O'Neill; Jockey-Timmy Murphy; SP-50/1
2ND-G V A Ireland 6-10-05 Owner-Donal O’Buachalla; Trainer-Francis Flood IRE; Jockey-Fran Flood; SP-14/1
3RD-Alexanderthegreat 6-11-06 Owner-The Irish Connection; Trainer-Paul Nicholls 6-11-06; Jockey-Ruby Walsh 25/1
4TH-His Nibs 7-10-08 Owner-John Galvanoni; Trainer-Venetia Williams; Jockey-Richard Johnson; SP-25/1
24 ran, Time-6m 16.30s; Dist-.5, 1, .5 4/1 Fav Keepatem (7th)

2003-WINNER-INCHING CLOSER 6-11-02 Owner-Nicola Spence; Trainer-Jonjo O’Neill; Jockey-Barry Geraghty; SP-6/1 Fav
2ND Royal Emperor 7-11-06 Owner-Widdop Wanderers; Trainer-Sue Smith; Jockey-Dominic Elsworth; SP-14/1
3RD Tribal Venture 5-10-06 Owner-Network Training III; Trainer-Ferdy Murphy; Jockey-Davy Russell; SP-33/1
4TH Ravenswood 6-11-03 Owner-David Johnson; Trainer-Martin Pipe; Jockey-Tom Scudamore; SP-7/1
24 ran, Time-6m 21.00s; Dist-sh, 12, 1.75

2002-WINNER-FREETOWN 6-11-02 Owner-Susan Blumberg and S Nairn; Trainer-Len Lungo; Jockey-Tony Dobbin; SP-20/1
2ND-Surprising 7-10-04 Owner-Martin St Quinton; Trainer-Philip Hobbs; Jockey-Richard Johnson; SP-12/1
3RD-Montreal 5-10-07 Owner-David Johnson; Trainer-Martin Pipe; Jockey-Ruby Walsh; SP-25/1
4TH-Native Emperor 6-10-09 Owner-Exors of the late Robert Hitchins; Trainer-Jonjo O’Neill; Jockey-Liam Cooper; SP-10/1 24 ran, Time-6m 16.780s; Dist-4, hd, 5 7/2 Fav Calladine (14th)

2000-WINNER-RUBHAHUNISH 9-11-02 Owner-Lone Star Racing Partnership; Trainer-Nigel Twiston-Davies; Jockey-Carl Llewellyn; SP-8/1
2ND-Take Five 7-10-00 Owner-J P McManus; Trainer-John Kiely IRE; Jockey-Norman Williamson; SP-7/1
3RD-Font Romeu 7-10-06 Owner-Pond House Gold; Trainer-Martin Pipe; Jockey-Barry Fenton; SP-14/1
4TH-Darapour 6-10-04 Owner-J P McManus; Trainer-Aidan O’Brien IRE; Jockey-Charlie Swan; SP-4/1Fav
24 ran, Time 6m 3.40s Dist-3.5, 3, sh

1999-WINNER-GENEROSA 6-10-01 Owner-Trish Hyde; Trainer-John Hassett IRE; Jockey-Norman Williamson; SP-12/1
2ND-Melody Maid 7-10-03 Owner-R Parish, B Griffiths, G Rogers, R Newman; Trainer-Nicky Henderson; Jockey-Mick Fitzgerald; SP-12/1
3RD-Galant Moss 5-10-07 Owner-Chris, Basil & Rosie Batterham II; Trainer-Martin Pipe; Jockey-Tony McCoy; SP-3/1 Fav
4TH-Shannon Gale 7-10-00 Owner-J P McManus; Trainer-Christy Roche IRE; Jockey-Fran Berry; SP-7/1
24 ran, Time 6m 17.9s Dist-5,1.25,1

1998-WINNER-UNSINKABLE BOXER 9-10-12 Owner-Paul Green; Trainer- Martin Pipe; Jockey-Tony McCoy; SP-5/2 Fav
2ND-Tompetoo 7-10-09 Owner-Pettifer Pettifer Ltd; Trainer-Nigel Twiston Davies; Jockey-Carl Llewellyn; SP-9/2
3RD-Spendid 6-10-10 Owner-Mrs Adair Catherwood; Trainer-David Nicholson; Jockey-Adrian Maguire; SP-12/1
4TH-Metastasio 6-10-10 Owner-F Mallon; Trainer-Gerry McArdle IRE; Jockey-Harry Rogers; SP-14/1
24 ran, Time 6m 12.2s Dist-4, .75, 2

1997-WINNER-PHARANEAR 7-11-09 Owner-Stainless Threaded Fasteners Ltd; Trainer-David Nicholson; Jockey-Mr Robert Thornton; SP-14/1
2ND-Yahmi 7-10-13 Owner-Wally Sturt; Trainer-Jim Old; Jockey-Jamie Osborne; SP-7/2 Fav
3RD-Danjing 5-10-11 Owner-Knight Hawks Partnership; Trainer-Martin Pipe; Jockey-Tony McCoy; SP-33/1
4TH-Haile Derring 7-10-06 Owner-Mrs V Stockdale; Trainer-Nigel Twiston-Davies; Jockey-Tom Jenks; SP-9/1 24 ran, Time-6m 24.2s, Dist-2, 5, 1

PERTEMPS FINAL (HANDICAP HURDLE) ROLL OF HONOUR
(Pertemps Final since 2002, Ladbrokes Casinos Final 2001-2000, Stakis Casinos Final 1999, Unicoin Homes Gold Card Handicap Hurdle 1998, Hamlet Extra Mild Cigars Gold Card Final 1997, Hamlet Cigars Gold Card Handicap Hurdle Final 1996 & 1994, Astec Vodafone Gold Card (Final) 1995, American Express Gold Card Final 1993, Coral Golden Final 1978-1992, Joe Coral Golden Hurdle Final 1974-78)

2011 Buena Vista 10-10-03 Conor O’Farrell David Pipe Matt Archer & the late Jean Broadhurst 20/1 23
2010 Buena Vista 9-10-01 Hadden Frost David Pipe Matt Archer & The Late Jean Broadhurst 16/1 24
2009 Kayf Aramis 7-10-05 Aidan Colemen Venetia Williams Isobel Phipps Coltman 16/1 22
2008 Ballyfitz 8-10-08 Paddy Brennan Nigel Twiston-Davies Fred & Wayne Mills 18/1 24
2007 Oscar Park 8-10-09 Tom Doyle David Arbuthnot George Ward 14/1 24
2006 Kadoun 9-11-07 Tom Ryan Michael O’Brien IRE J P McManus 50/1 24
2005 Oulart 6-10-02 Paul Carberry Dessie Hughes IRE Ged Pierse 10/1 22
2004 Creon 9-10-00 Timmy Murphy Jonjo O’Neill J P McManus 50/1 24
2003 Inching Closer 6-11-02 Barry Geraghty Jonjo O’Neill Nicola Spence 6/1F 24
2002 Freetown 6-11-02 Tony Dobbin Len Lungo Susan Blumberg and S Nairn 20/1 24
2001 No Race (Foot and Mouth)
2000 Rubhahunish 9-11-02 Carl Llewellyn Nigel-Twiston-Davies Lone Star Racing Partnership 8/1 24
1999 Generosa 6-10-01 Norman Williamson John Hassett IRE Mrs Trish Hyde 12/1 24
1998 Unsinkable Boxer 9-10-12 Tony McCoy Martin Pipe Paul Green 5/2F 24
1997 Pharanear 7-11-09 Mr Robert Thornton David Nicholson Stainless Threaded Fasteners Ltd 14/1 24
1996 Great Easeby 6-10-01 Richard McGrath Wilf Storey David Batey 7/1 24
1995 Miracle Man 7-10-11 Peter Hobbs Colin Weedon Patrick Evans 9/2F 23
1994 Tindari 6-10-09 Paul Williams Malcolm Jefferson Yorkshire Racing Club Owners Group 20/1 32
1993 Fissure Seal 7-11-04 Charlie Swan Harry de Bromhead IRE Delton Syndicate 14/1 22
1992 My View 8-10-04 Jason Titley Michael Purcell IRE Mrs Seamus Purcell 33/1 31
1991 Danny Connors 7-10-12 Mark Dwyer Jonjo O’Neill J P McManus 9/1 29
1990 Henry Mann 7-11-09 Tony Mulholland Simon Christian Lynn Wilson 20/1 27
1989 Rogers Princess 7-10-00 Shaun Keightley Martin Tate R C Smith 8/1JF 27
1988 Pragada 5-11-00 Richard Rowe Josh Gifford Mrs M G L McGlone 16/1 29
1987 Taberna Lord 6-11-05 Luke Harvey Jim Wilson R Jackson 10/1 31
1986 Motivator 6-10-07 Graham McCourt Mick Ryan Terry Ramsden 15/2F 31
1985 Von Trappe 8-10-06 Richard Dunwoody Michael Oliver P Clarke 12/1 30
1984 Canio 7-10-09 John Francome Ron Hodges David Ladhams 20/1 31
1983 Forgive N'Forget 6-11-06 Mark Dwyer Jimmy FitzGerald T Kilroe Ltd 5/2F 23
1982 Tall Order 8-10-02 Andy Stringer Louis Foster Louis Foster 15/1 31
1981 Willie Wumpkins 13-10-08 Mr Jim Wilson Jane Pilkington Jane Pilkington 13/2 20
1980 Willie Wumpkins 12-10-07 Mr Jim Wilson Jane Pilkington Jane Pilkington 10/1 19
1979 Willie Wumpkins 11-10-04 Mr Jim Wilson Jane Pilkington Jane Pilkington 25/1 22
1978 Water Colour 9-10-01 Kevin Whyte Martin Tate J Soles 11/1 23
1977 Outpoint 7-11-03 Pat O'Brien Fred Winter Mrs G Abecassis 10/1 27
1976 Good Prospect 7-11-10 Richard Evans John Edwards T Dudley 10/1 17
1975 Saffron Cake 6-10-07 Eddie Wright Les Kennard P Haynes 13/1 24
1974 Kastrup 7-10-03 Graham Thorner David Barons Austin Darlington 10/1 22