Stan James Champion Hurdle |
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| Grade 1 £418,000 added, 4yo plus, 2m 110y, Class 1 |
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| Tuesday 11th March 2014 | |
1 Jezki 9/1
2 My Tent Or Yours 3/1
3 The New One 100/30
9 ran Distances: nk, 2½l, 2¼l
TIME 3m 45.25s (fast by 5.75s)
Owner J P McManus landed a notable 1-2 at Cheltenham this afternoon after Jezki produced a gutsy performance to land the Stan James Champion Hurdle by a neck from My Tent Or Yours.
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The Jessica Harrington-trained six-year-old had a healthy lead jumping the final hurdle but he had to dig deep to resist the challenge of A P McCoy's mount as the pair duelled up the Cheltenham hill.
Jezki's victory means that McManus is now the most successful owner in the history of the Stan James Champion Hurdle with five wins following three success for Istabraq (1998, 1999, 2000) and Binocular in 2010.
McManus was quick to pay tribute to Harrington's husband Johnny, who was not present at Cheltenham this afternoon due to ongoing health problems.
"Everyone who is at Cheltenham with us is thinking of Johnny, who will be at home watching this and we hope he'll be well enough to join us again here next year;" said McManus. "Our thoughts are also with the connections of Our Conor as well - it's very unfortunate.
"I am ecstatic about having the winner and the second. It means an awful lot to me. For me, the National Hunt season is centred around the Champion Hurdle because I didn't have many Gold Cup horses and I am unlikely to win the Grand National.
"It was all about the Champion Hurdle and full marks to Nicky, Jessie and Eddie Harty who had the horses looking in mint condition today, as all the other runners were. It was a credit to everybody and it's just a very special day."
Trainer Jessica Harrington was also delighted following Jezki's victory.
"It's fantastic and a great to be in this position," said Harrington. "He's a great favourite of mine and Barry has a great record on him. I was terrifed!"
Jockey Barry Geraghty, who is unbeaten when riding Jezki, was also full of praise for his mount.
"He is a great little horse. He had good form and we didn't have an awful lot to find with the best of them. I don't think that the price reflected his chance. It was a great run by the runner-up and I am sure J P will be delighted to have the first two home.
"I have been riding winners for Jessie since I was 17 or 18 and she has been great to me over the years. She has given me plenty of good horses like Moscow Flyer. It's brilliant to be back here for her again. The Champion Hurdle is one of the races in the year that you want to win. I had a great run around - he missed the third last, which was the only slight concern I had, but apart from that he was very good.
"He found plenty when I needed him to. The runner-up was getting to me - I needed the line!
"I am sure that the hood has helped him. He settled better and there was enough hustle and bustle around when My Tent Or Yours was on my boot at one stage. That would have been enough to get him keen but it didn't light him up.
"He's a horse with a big engine and it rode like a good time."
Stan James Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy (Grade 1)
£418,000 added, 4yo plus, 2m 110y, Class 1
9 ran
Going: Good to Soft, Good in Places
| Horse Trainer |
Jockey Weight |
SP Distance |
|
| 1 |
Jezki Mrs J Harrington |
B J Geraghty 11st 10lbs |
9 - 1 Winner |
| 2 |
My Tent Or Yours N J Henderson |
A P McCoy 11st 10lbs |
3 - 1 Neck |
| 3 |
The New One N A Twiston-Davies |
Sam Twiston-Davies 11st 10lbs |
10 - 3 2 1/2 lengths |
| 4 |
Hurricane Fly W P Mullins |
R Walsh 11st 10lbs |
11 - 4 2 1/4 lengths |
| 5 |
Captain Cee Bee E P Harty |
M P Walsh 11st 10lbs |
100 - 1 7 lengths |
| 6 |
Ptit Zig P F Nicholls |
D A Jacob 11st 10lbs |
28 - 1 2 1/2 lengths |
| 7 |
Melodic Rendezvous J Scott |
Nick Scholfield 11st 10lbs |
20 - 1 4 1/2 lengths |
| 8 |
Grumeti A King |
W Hutchinson 11st 10lbs |
66 - 1 11 lengths |
| Fell |
Our Conor D T Hughes |
D E Mullins 11st 10lbs |
5 - 1 |
MY TENT SECOND
The Nicky Henderson-trained My Tent Or Yours came second in a 1-2 for owner J P McManus. The New One came third while Hurricane Fly, who was sent off 11/4 favourite, came fourth.
Jezki, trained by Henderson's great friend Jessica Harrington, won the race partnered by his stable jockey Barry Geraghty.
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"The horse pulls too hard and A P (McCoy) said he must be some horse to achieved what he did. No horse can pull like that and do what he's done," said Henderson.
"I don't know what we can do. We need one six-furlong horse to start with him and then another to finish with him! We thought about trying ear plugs but this wasn't the right race to experiment in.
"That's the greatest result, for Jessie and her husband Johnnie. They stay with us for Cheltenham every year but Johnnie hasn't been able to travel this time but we'll be raising a glass to him this evening.
"Jessie and J P rang and asked if Barry could ride Jezki and I said great because I would either be getting A P or Barry. I feel sorry for A P.
"I suppose we will take on Jezki again at Punchestown and hopefully it will be our turn next time. There's nowhere else he could go and we don't want to try two and a half miles at Aintree."
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The New One was hampered by Our Conor's third flight fall and his trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies said: "It's disappointing and we don't know what would have happened. He wasn't beaten much further than he was hampered and we were just incredibly unlucky.
"You've been trying all year and then something like that happens and I'd like to have found out who had the best horse. I hope we have but we haven't proved it. I imagine we'll be favourite for the race next year and we'll be quite happy to come back.
"Sam is in bits but he has done nothing wrong. For me the best thing he did was the phenomenal ride to put the horse back in the race without overreacting."
Willie Mullins, trainer of Hurricane Fly, said: "I'm disappointed. I thought we were in good form coming into the race and the horses are running well so it's disappointing to be fourth.
"We'll go to Punchestown as normal, then review things. One disappointing run isn't the end of it."
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Our Conor, who fell at the third hurdle, was humanely put down.
He was attended by vets immediately and they did everything possible to save him.
After extensive treatment for a back injury, the decision was made to humanely put down the horse.
CHAMPION HURDLE PREVIOUS RESULTS
2013-WINNER- HURRICANE FLY 9-11-10 Owner-George Creighton & Rose Boyd; Trainer-Willie Mullins IRE; Jockey-Ruby Walsh; SP-13/8 Fav
2ND-Rock On Ruby 8-11-10 Owner-The Festival Goers; Trainer-Harry Fry; Jockey-Noel Fehily; SP-11/2
3RD-Countrywide Flame 5-11-10 Owner-Estio Pinnacle Racing; Trainer-John Quinn; Jockey-Denis O’Regan; SP-16/1
9 ran, Time-3m 59.35s; Dist-2½, 1¾
2012-WINNER-ROCK ON RUBY 7-11-10 Owner-The Festival Goers; Trainer-Paul Nicholls; Jockey-Noel Fehily; SP-11/1
2ND-Overturn 8-11-10 Owner-Tim Leslie; Trainer-Donald McCain; Jockey-Jason Maguire; SP-20/1
3RD-Hurricane Fly 8-11-10 Owner-George Creighton & Rose Boyd; Trainer-Willie Mullins IRE; Jockey-Ruby Walsh; SP-4/6 Fav
10 ran, Time-3m 50.10s; Dist 3¾, 1¾
2011-WINNER-HURRICANE FLY 7-11-10 Owner-George Creighton & Mrs Rose Boyd; Trainer-Willie Mullins IRE; Jockey-Ruby Walsh; SP-11/4 Fav
2ND-Peddlers Cross 6-11-10 Owner-Tim Leslie; Trainer-Donald McCain; Jockey-Jason Maguire; SP-9/2
3RD-Oscar Whisky 6-11-10 Owner- Walters Plant Hire Ltd; Trainer-Nicky Henderson; Jockey-Barry Geraghty; SP-7/1
11 ran, Time-3m 53.71s; Dist 11⁄4 , 5
2010-WINNER-BINOCULAR 6-11-10 Owner-J P McManus; Trainer-Nicky Henderson; Jockey-A P McCoy; SP-9/1
2ND-Khyber Kim 8-11-10 Owner-Caroline Mould; Trainer-Nigel Twiston-Davies; Jockey-Paddy Brennan; SP-7/1
3RD-Zaynar 5-11-10 Owner- Men In Our Position; Trainer-Nicky Henderson; Jockey-Andrew Tinkler; SP-15/2
12 ran, Time-3m 53.80s; Dist-3½, 6 11/4 Fav Go Native (10th)
2009-WINNER-PUNJABI 6-11-10 Owner-Raymond Tooth; Trainer-Nicky Henderson; Jockey-Barry Geraghty; SP-22/1
2ND-Celestial Halo 5-11-10 Owner-The Stewart Family; Trainer-Paul Nicholls; Jockey-Ruby Walsh; SP-17/2
3RD-Binocular 5-11-10 Owner-J P McManus; Trainer-Nicky Henderson; Jockey-Tony McCoy; SP-6/4 Fav
23 ran, Time-4m 0.90s; Dist- nk, hd
2008-WINNER-KATCHIT 5-11-10 Owner-D S J P Syndicate; Trainer-Alan King; Jockey-Robert Thornton; SP-10/1
2ND-Osana 6-11-10 Owner-Thomas Barr; Trainer-David Pipe; Jockey-Tom Scudamore; SP-9/2
3RD-Punjabi 5-11-10 Owner-Raymond Tooth; Trainer-Nicky Henderson; Jockey-Barry Geraghty; SP-25/1
15 ran, Time-4m 8.10s; Dist-1, 5 2/1 Fav Sizing Europe (14th)
2007-WINNER-SUBLIMITY 7-11-10 Owner-Bill Hennessy; Trainer-John Carr IRE; Jockey-Philip Carberry; SP-16/1
2ND-Brave Inca 9-11-10 Owner-Novices Syndicate; Trainer-Colm Murphy IRE; Jockey-Ruby Walsh; SP-11/2
3RD-Afsoun 5-11-10 Owner-Trevor Hemmings; Trainer-Nicky Henderson; Jockey-Mick Fitzgerald; SP-28/1
10 ran, Time-3m 55.70s; Dist-3, nk 6/4 Fav Detroit City (6th)
2006-WINNER-BRAVE INCA 8-11-10 Owner-Novices Syndicate; Trainer-Colm Murphy IRE; Jockey-Tony McCoy; SP-7/4 Fav
2ND-Macs Joy 7-11-10 Owner-Mac’s J Racing Syndicate; Trainer-Jessica Harrington IRE; Jockey-Barry Geraghty; SP-13/2
3RD-Hardy Eustace 9-11-10 Owner-Lar Byrne; Trainer-Dessie Hughes IRE; Jockey-Conor O’Dwyer; SP-11/2
18 ran. Time-3m 50.00s; Dist-1, 3½
2005-WINNER-HARDY EUSTACE 8-11-10 Owner-Lar Byrne; Trainer-Dessie Hughes IRE; Jockey-Conor O’Dwyer; SP-
7/2 Jt Fav
2ND-Harchibald 6-11-10 Owner-Des Sharkey; Trainer-Noel Meade IRE; Jockey-Paul Carberry; SP-7/1
3RD-Brave Inca 7-11-10 Owner-Novices Syndicate; Trainer-Colm Murphy IRE; Jockey-Barry Cash; SP-10/1
14 ran, Time-3m 51.50s; Dist-nk, nk 7/2 Jt Fav Back In Front (9th)
2004-WINNER-HARDY EUSTACE 7-11-10 Owner-Lar Byrne; Trainer-Dessie Hughes IRE; Jockey-Conor O’Dwyer; SP-33/1
2ND-Rooster Booster 10-11-10 Owner-Terry Warner; Trainer-Philip Hobbs; Jockey-Richard Johnson; SP-11/8 Fav
3RD-Intersky Falcon 7-11-10 Owner-Interskyracing.com & Jacqui O’Neill; Trainer: Jonjo O’Neill; Jockey-Liam Cooper; SP-8/1
14 ran, Time-3m 54.50s; Dist-5, 4
2003-WINNER-ROOSTER BOOSTER 9-12-00 Owner-Terry Warner; Trainer-Philip Hobbs; Jockey-Richard Johnson; SP-9/2
2ND-Westender 7-12-00 Owner-Matt Archer & Jean Broadhurst; Trainer-Martin Pipe; Jockey-Rodi Greene; SP-33/1
3RD-Rhinestone Cowboy 7-12-00 Owner-Sue Magnier; Trainer-Jonjo O’Neill; Jockey-Norman Williamson; SP-5/2
Fav 17 ran, Time-3m 54.70s; Dist-11, 3
2002-WINNER-HORS LA LOI III 7-12-00 Owner-Paul Green; Trainer-James Fanshawe; Jockey-Dean Gallagher; SP-10/1
2ND-Marble Arch 6-12-00 Owner-Martin Wilson, Rory Sweet and Mary Wilson; Trainer-Hughie Morrison; Jockey-Ruby Walsh; SP-25/1
3RD-Bilboa 5-11-09 Owner-Jorg Vasicek; Trainer-Francois Doumen FR; Jockey-Thierry Doumen; SP-14/1
15 ran, Time-3m 53.80s; Dist- 3, ½ 2/1 Fav Istabraq (pu)
2001 Cancelled
2000-WINNER-ISTABRAQ 8-12-00 Owner-J P McManus; Trainer-Aidan O’Brien IRE; Jockey-Charlie Swan; SP-8/15 Fav
2ND-Hors La Loi III 5-12-00 Owner-Paul Green; Trainer-Francois Doumen FR; Jockey-Dean Gallagher; SP-11/1
3RD-Blue Royal 5-12-00 Owner-Lynn Wilson; Trainer-Nicky Henderson; Jockey-Mick Fitzgerald; SP-16/1
12 ran, Time-3m 48.10s; Dist-4, nk
1999-WINNER-ISTABRAQ 7-12-00 Owner-J P McManus; Trainer-Aidan O’Brien IRE; Jockey-Charlie Swan; SP-4/9 Fav
2ND-Theatreworld 7-12-00 Owner-Sue Magnier; Trainer-Aidan O’Brien IRE; Jockey-Tommy Treacy; SP-16/1 3RD-French Holly 8-12-00 Owner-Kieran Flood; Trainer-Ferdy Murphy; Jockey-Andrew Thornton; SP-11/2
14 ran, Time 3m 56.7s; Dist-3½, 2½
1998-WINNER-ISTABRAQ 6-12-00 Owner-J P McManus; Trainer-Aidan O’Brien IRE; Jockey-Charlie Swan; SP-3/1 Fav
2ND-Theatreworld 6-12-00 Owner-Sue Magnier; Trainer-Aidan O’Brien IRE; Jockey-Tommy Treacy; SP-20/1
3RD-I’m Supposin 6-12-00 Owner-Nicholas Cooper; Trainer-Richard Rowe; Jockey-Richard Dunwoody; SP-6/1
18 ran, Time 3m 49.1s; Dist-12, 1
1997-WINNER-MAKE A STAND 6-12-00 Owner-Peter Deal; Trainer-Martin Pipe; Jockey-Tony McCoy; SP-7/1
2ND-Theatreworld 5-12-00 Owner-Sue Magnier; Trainer-Aidan O’Brien IRE; Jockey-Norman Williamson; SP-33/1
3RD-Space Trucker 6-12-00 Owner-Elaine Queally; Trainer-Jessica Harrington IRE; Jockey-John Shortt; SP-9/2
17 ran, Time-3m 48.4s, Dist-5, ¾ 7/2 Fav Large Action (pu)
1996-WINNER-COLLIER BAY 6-12-00 Owner-Wally Sturt; Trainer-Jim Old; Jockey-Graham Bradley; SP-9/1
2ND-Alderbrook 7-12-00 Owner-Ernie Pick; Trainer-Kim Bailey; Jockey-Richard Dunwoody; SP-10/11 Fav
3RD-Pridwell 6-12-00 Owner-Jones, Berstock and Fleet Partnership; Trainer-Martin Pipe; Jockey-Chris Maude;
SP-33/1 16 ran, Time-3m 59.0s, Dist-2½, 6
1995-WINNER-ALDERBROOK 6-12-00 Owner-Ernie Pick; Trainer-Kim Bailey; Jockey-Norman Williamson; SP-11/2
2ND-Large Action 7-12-00 Owner-Brian Stewart-Brown; Trainer-Oliver Sherwood; Jockey-Jamie Osborne; SP-4/1 Jt Fav
3RD-Danoli 7-12-00 Owner-Dan O’Neill; Trainer-Tom Foley IRE; Jockey-Charlie Swan; SP-4/1 Jt Fav
14 ran, Time-4m 03.1s, Dist-5, 2
