SkyBet Supreme Novices' Hurdle |
|
| Grade 1 £120,000 added, 4yo plus, 2m 110y, Class 1 |
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| Tuesday 11th March 2014 | |
1 Vautour 7/2J
2 Josses Hill 14/1
3 Vaniteux 11/1
18 ran Distances: 6l, ½l, 1l
TIME 3m 46.40s (fast by 4.60s)
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Vautour produced a sensational performance to land the opening race of The Festival, the Sky Bet Novices' Hurdle, by six lengths from runner-up Josses Hill.
The 7/2 joint-favourite was always in command turning for home and when jockey Ruby Walsh asked him for a finishing kick, he took off up the hill to record a commanding success. Trainer Willie Mullins was visibly surprised after the race and was full of praise for the five-year-old following the opener.
"We knew he was a good horse but I wasn't quite expecting that!" said Mullins.
"He was a bit free over the first couple of hurdles but once he relaxed a bit and Ruby (Walsh) had accepted that he wanted to get on with it, he let him gallop and use his stride. Next thing you know, he was on a different set of rails to the other horses - that's what I found amazing. I said that if he could keep it up, he was going to put in a performance like he did.
"It was a fantastic performance - he's treated them like a bunch of maidens. I was hoping he could win but I can't get over the way he won and he seemed in control for most of the race.
"Apart from a blip at the second last, it looked like he was always going to win and when the crowd roared turning for home, he took off. It was an extraordinary performance - you could see the whole way to the winning post that he was just looking round and idling. I'm looking forward to seeing him over fences as he looks every inch a novice chaser. We think he'll stay and he should be some chaser. I think he'll be going over fences next season."
Jockey Ruby Walsh was all smiles as he returned to the winner's enclosure and revealed that he wasn't going to let the race turn into a slowly run affair.
"I had it in my head that I was going to ride this horse as if he was a stayer but I wasn't going to come back in and kick myself for going too slow," said Walsh.
"He jumped super - it was a bit of a grab at the third last. I have been doubting him all week but, Jesus, he is a good horse. He didn't settle. He was in my hands the whole way but he jumped super when I needed him and he didn't stop.
"When I got down to the second last, he pricked his ears and I thought 'thank God, he hasn't done too much and there's a bit left'. I gave him a tap on the shoulder and he lengthened off the bend - I knew then that the fast horses were going to have to really stay to get by him. He dug it out all the way to the line.
"We thought that he was a hell of a horse. But he worked with Wicklow Brave and Wicklow Brave looked so much quicker. You start thinking that this fellow is maybe not as good as we thought. He proved to me today that he is a hell of a horse. He was good enough to win today and that's all that counts.
"You can make too much of winning here. This morning was a cold and timely reminder with Jason Maguire. There's a lot more to life than riding winners at Cheltenham. A P showed a picture of Archie before racing and you think 'Jesus, thank God my kids are all right at home'. It's a big week but there's more to life than Cheltenham."
Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1)
£120,000 added, 4yo plus, 2m 110y, Class 1
18 ran
Going: Good to Soft, Good in Places
| Horse Trainer |
Jockey Weight |
SP Distance |
|
| 1 |
Vautour W P Mullins |
R Walsh 11st 7lbs |
7 - 2 Winner |
| 2 |
Josses Hill N J Henderson |
A Tinkler 11st 7lbs |
14 - 1 6 lengths |
| 3 |
Vaniteux N J Henderson |
B J Geraghty 11st 7lbs |
11 - 1 1/2 length |
| 4 |
Sgt Reckless M R Channon |
D Elsworth 11st 7lbs |
33 - 1 1 length |
| 5 |
Wilde Blue Yonder A King |
R Thornton 11st 7lbs |
25 - 1 1 length |
| 6 |
Wicklow Brave W P Mullins |
P Townend 11st 7lbs |
8 - 1 1 length |
| 7 |
Western Boy P A Fahy |
D N Russell 11st 7lbs |
20 - 1 3/4 length |
| 8 |
Un Ace K C Bailey |
Aidan Coleman 11st 7lbs |
40 - 1 3/4 length |
| 9 |
Irving P F Nicholls |
Nick Scholfield 11st 7lbs |
7 - 2 Neck |
| 10 |
Valseur Lido W P Mullins |
B J Cooper 11st 7lbs |
16 - 1 Neck |
| 11 |
The Liquidator D Pipe |
T Scudamore 11st 7lbs |
12 - 1 1/2 length |
| 12 |
Three Kingdoms J P Ferguson |
D F O'Regan 11st 7lbs |
33 - 1 1/2 length |
| 13 |
Gilgamboa E Bolger |
A P McCoy 11st 7lbs |
9 - 1 3 1/2 lengths |
| 14 |
Garde La Victoire P J Hobbs |
R Johnson 11st 7lbs |
33 - 1 2 1/2 lengths |
| 15 |
Splash of Ginge N A Twiston-Davies |
Sam Twiston-Davies 11st 7lbs |
20 - 1 1 1/2 length |
| 16 |
Sky Khan R C Guest |
Jake Greenall 11st 7lbs |
100 - 1 6 lengths |
| 17 |
Germany Calling C E Longsdon |
N Fehily 11st 7lbs |
100 - 1 12 lengths |
| 18 |
Fantasy King James Moffatt |
B Hughes 11st 7lbs |
150 - 1 4 lengths |
VAUTOUR FOR CHELTENHAM BANKER
After Vautour's scintillating victory, winning owner Rich Ricci had one aim - to watch a replay of the race.
Ricci, a banker whose wife Susannah is the official owner of Vautour, admitted he was too nervous to watch much of the race live, even though he must have felt a sense of deja vu. Twelve months ago the Ricci colours were carried to success in the same race by Champagne Fever, who also made all.
Ricci, welcoming his fourth Festival winner, said: "That was fantastic. We thought he was good, but he stuffed them. I thought he was a bit keen at the start, but I didn't watch too much more and just let my friend Joe tell me what was going on.
"I was too nervous, but he was great and I cannot wait to see the replay.
"I knew Ruby [Walsh] would keep the horse handy and we said that if nothing else wanted to make the running we would do it, and boy he did. I didn't have a bet on him.
"He's a lovely-looking horse and will make some chaser."
French bloodstock agent Pierre Boulard, working with Harold Kirk, bought Vautour on Ricci's behalf after the horse had run twice in France for trainer Guillaume Macaire. Boulard said: "He was second at Pau, then second at Auteuil, 12 months ago last Sunday, and although he wasn't very fit on that day I thought he was a very interesting horse.
"He was very well bred - Willie has a very good record with horses by Robin Des Champs - and the mare was useful. He was expensive at the time, but he's not expensive now.
"You don't have to do any schooling with a horse that you buy from Macaire, but Willie and Ruby make the difference."
Nicky Henderson saddled Jossies Hill to finish runner-up and Vaniteux to take third place and he hopes that bodes well for the future.
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"They are both horses for the future but it was a bit agonising to have run so well yet be thumped like that by the winner. They won't have too much more racing this season."
Alan Spence, owner of Jossies Hill, added: "The horse's scopes have been bad and Nicky said we could have done with another week. But I don't think he'd have beaten the winner even with another week. We'll go chasing next season."
Fourth-placed Sgt Reckless finished with a wet sail and trainer Mick Channon said: "He got too far back and I'm not sure why. He was squeezed out and then in last place at the first. He was so far back but he flew home and we always thought he was a good horse.
"We've been waiting for some decent ground so we'll keep going with him."
SUPREME NOVICES' HURDLE PREVIOUS RESULTS
2013-WINNER-CHAMPAGNE FEVER 6-11-07 Owner-Susannah Ricci; Trainer-Willie Mullins IRE; Jockey-Ruby Walsh; SP-5/1
2ND-My Tent Or Yours 6-11-07 Owner-J P McManus; Trainer-Nicky Henderson; Jockey-A P McCoy; SP-15/8 Fav
3RD-Jezki 5-11-07 Owner-J P McManus; Trainer-Jessica Harrington IRE; Jockey-Robert Power; SP-5/1
12 ran, Time-3m 55.60s; Dist-½, 2¼
2012-WINNER-CINDERS AND ASHES 5-11-07 Owner-Dermot Hanafin & Phil Cunningham; Trainer-Donald McCain; Jockey-Jason
Maguire; SP-10/1
2ND-Darlan 5-11-07 Owner-J P McManus; Trainer-Nicky Henderson; Jockey-A P McCoy; SP-7/1
3RD-Trifolium 5-11-07 Owner-Gigginstown House Stud; Trainer-Charles Byrnes IRE; Jockey-Davy Russell; SP-15/2
19 ran, Time-3m 52.70s; Dist-1¼, nk 6/1 Fav Galileo’s Choice (7th)
2011-WINNER-AL FEROF 6-11-07 Owner-John Hales; Trainer-Paul Nicholls; Jockey-Ruby Walsh; SP-10/1
2ND-Spirit Son 5-11-07 Owner-Michael Buckley; Trainer-Nicky Henderson; Jockey-Barry Geraghty; SP-5/1
3RD-Sprinter Sacre 5-11-07 Owner-Caroline Mould; Trainer-Nicky Henderson; Jockey-A P McCoy; SP-11/1
15 ran, Time-3m 52.10s; Dist-2, 31⁄4 7/4 Fav Cue Card (4th)
2010-WINNER-MENORAH 5-11-07 Owner-Diana Whateley; Trainer-Philip Hobbs; Jockey-Richard Johnson; SP-12/1
2ND-Get Me Out Of Here 6-11-07 Owner-J P McManus; Trainer-Jonjo O’Neill; Jockey-Tony McCoy; SP-9/2
3RD-Dunguib 7-11-07 Owner-Dan Hartnett/Lily Lawlor; Trainer-Philip Fenton IRE; Jockey-Brian O’Connell; SP-4/5 Fav
18 ran, Time-3m 56.52s; Dist-hd, 1¾
2009-WINNER-GO NATIVE 6-11-07 Owner-Docado Syndicate; Trainer-Noel Meade IRE; Jockey-Paul Carberry; SP-12/1
2ND-Medermit 5-11-07 Owner-The Dunkley & Reilly Partnership; Trainer-Alan King; Jockey-Robert Thornton; SP-12/1
3RD-Somersby 5-11-07 Owner-Camilla Radford; Trainer-Henrietta Knight; Jockey-Dominic Elsworth; SP-40/1
20 ran, Time-4m 1.00s; Dist-nk, 2¾ 9/4 Fav Cousin Vinny (5th)
2008-WINNER-CAPTAIN CEE BEE 7-11-07 Owner-J P McManus; Trainer-Edward Harty IRE; Jockey-Robert Thornton; SP-17/2
2ND-Binocular 4-10-13 Owner-J P McManus; Trainer-Nicky Henderson; Jockey-Tony McCoy; SP-8/1 Co Fav
3RD-Snap Tie 6-11-07 Owner-Diana Whateley; Trainer-Philip Hobbs; Jockey-Richard Johnson; SP-20/1
22 ran, Time-4m 6.45s; Dist-2, 4½ 8/1 Co Favs Pigeon Island (11th), Muirhead (12th)
2007-WINNER-EBAZIYAN 6-11-07 Owner-Peter Garvey; Trainer-Willie Mullins
IRE; Jockey-Davy Condon; SP-40/1
2ND-Granit Jack 5-11-07 Owner-John Hales; Trainer-Paul Nicholls; Jockey-Ruby
Walsh; SP-15/2
3RD-Amaretto Rose 6-11-00 Owner-Weatherbys Racing Club; Trainer-Nicky
Henderson; Jockey-Mick Fitzgerald; SP-2/1 Fav
22 ran, Time-3m 56.1s; Dist-3, nk
2006-WINNER-NOLAND 5-11-07 Owner-John Hales; Trainer-Paul Nicholls;
Jockey-Ruby Walsh; SP-6/1
2ND-Straw Bear 5-11-07 Owner-J P McManus; Trainer-Nick Gifford; Jockey-Tony
McCoy; SP-11/1
3RD-Buena Vista 5-11-07 Owner-Matt Archer & the late Jean Broadhurst;
Trainer-Martin Pipe; Jockey-Timmy Murphy; SP-14/1 20 ran, Time-3m 54.50s;
Dist-nk, 1¼ 5/2 Fav Sweet Wake (5th)
2005-WINNER-ARCALIS 5-11-07 Owner-Andrea & Graham
Wylie; Trainer-Howard Johnson; Jockey-Graham Lee: SP-20/1
2ND-Wild Passion 5-11-07 Owner-Des Sharkey; Trainer-Noel Meade IRE; Jockey-Paul
Carberry; SP-10/1
3RD-Dusky Warbler 6-11-07 Owner-Mike Charlton & Rodger Sargent; Trainer-Gary
Moore; Jockey-Jamie Moore; SP-20/1 20 ran, Time-3m 53.00s; Dist-6, ½ 13/2
Fav Marcel (13th)
2004-WINNER-BRAVE INCA 6-11-07 Owner-Novices Syndicate; Trainer-Colm
Murphy IRE; Jockey-Barry Cash; SP-7/2 Fav
2ND-War Of Attrition 5-11-07 Owner-Gigginstown House Stud; Trainer-Mouse
Morris IRE; Jockey-Conor O’Dwyer; SP-33/1
3RD-Fleet Street 5-11-07 Owner-Henry Ponsonby; Trainer-Nicky Henderson;
Jockey-Andrew Tinkler; SP-20/1
19 ran, Time-3m 55.60s; Dist-nk, 7
2003-WINNER-BACK IN FRONT 6-11-08 Owner-Dermot
Cox; Trainer-Edward O’Grady
IRE; Jockey-Norman Williamson; SP-3/1 Fav
2ND-Kicking King 5-11-08 Owner-Conor Clarkson; Trainer-Tom Taaffe IRE;
Jockey-Barry Geraghty; SP-13/2
3RD-Chauvinist 8-11-08 Owner-Bunny & Nick Roberts; Trainer-Nicky
Henderson; Jockey-Mick Fitzgerald; SP-20/1
19 ran, Time-3m 56.80s; Dist-10, 4
2002-WINNER-LIKE-A-BUTTERFLY 8-11-03 Owner-J P McManus; Trainer-Christy
Roche IRE; Jockey-Charlie Swan; SP-7/4 Fav
2ND-Westender 6-11-08 Owner-Matt Archer and Jean Broadhurst; Trainer-Martin
Pipe; Jockey-Tony McCoy; SP-6/1
3RD-In Contrast 6-11-08 Owner-Peter Emery and A Staple; Trainer-Philip
Hobbs; Jockey-Richard Johnson; SP-16/1
28 ran, Time-3m 54.25s; Dist-nk, 2½
2001 - Cancelled (Foot and Mouth Disease)
2000-WINNER-SAUSALITO BAY 6-11-08 Owner-The High Street Racing Syndicate;
Trainer- Noel Meade IRE; Jockey-Paul Carberry; SP-14/1
2ND-Best Mate 5-11-08 Owner-Jim Lewis; Trainer-Henrietta Knight; Jockey-Jim
Culloty; SP-6/1
3RD-Youlneverwalkalone 6-11-08 Owner-J P McManus; Trainer-Christy Roche
IRE; Jockey-Conor O’Dwyer; SP-5/4 Fav 15 ran, Time-3m 51.70s; Dist-¾,
1¼
1999-WINNER-HORS LA LOI III 4-11-00 Owner-Paul Green; Trainer-Martin
Pipe; Jockey-Tony McCoy; SP-9/2
2ND-Joe Mac 5-11-08 Owner-J P McManus; Trainer-Christy Roche IRE; Jockey-Conor
O’Dwyer; SP-6/1
3RD-Arctic Fancy 6-11-08 Owner-The Cool Customers; Trainer-Julian Smyth-Osbourne;
Jockey-Warren Marston; SP-66/1 20 ran, Time-3m 54.6s; Dist-17, 7 11/4
Fav Cardinal Hill (ur)
1998-WINNER-FRENCH BALLERINA 5-11-03 Owner-Sue Magnier; Trainer-Pat
Flynn IRE; Jockey-Graham Bradley; SP-10/1
2ND-His Song 5-11-08 Owner-David Lloyd; Trainer-Mouse Morris IRE; Jockey-Richard
Hughes; SP-4/1 Fav
3RD-Gatflax 6-11-08 Owner-Giles Clarke; Trainer-Nigel Twiston-Davies;
Jockey-Carl Llewellyn; SP-16/1
30 ran, Time-3m 50.9s, Dist-7, 1
1997-WINNER-SHADOW LEADER 6-11-08 Owner-James Blackshaw; Trainer-Charles
Egerton; Jockey-Jamie Osborne; SP-5/1
2ND-Princeful 6-11-08 Owner-Robert & Elizabeth Hitchins; Trainer-Jenny
Pitman; Jockey-Rodney Farrant; SP-25/1
3RD-Nordic Breeze 5-11-08 Owner-Malcolm Jones; Trainer-Martin Pipe; Jockey-David
Walsh; SP-100/1
16 ran, Time-3m 49.5s, Dist-10, ½ 2/1 Fav Finnegan’s Hollow
(f)
1996-WINNER-INDEFENCE 5-11-08 Owner-Indef Limited; Trainer-Jenny Pitman;
Jockey-Warren Marston; SP-25/1
2ND-Kimanicky 6-11-08 Owner-Elaine Barnes; Trainer-Nicky Henderson; Jockey-Mick
Fitzgerald; SP-11/2
3RD-Castle Sweep 5-11-08 Owner-Lord Vestey; Trainer-David Nicholson;
Jockey-Peter Niven; SP-7/2 Fav
27 ran, Time-4m 1.8s, Dist-8, hd
