Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Steeple Chase |
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| Cheltenham 16:00 £60,000 added, 5yo plus, 3m 7f, Class 2  |
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| Wednesday 11th March 2015 | |
1 Rivage D'Or 16/1
2. Any Currency 7/1
3. Uncle Junior 20/1
4. Dogora 20/1
16 ran Distances: 2¼l, 1l, 2l
TIME 8m 23.80s (slow by 19.80s)
Rivage D'Or wins the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase, and that's two for Davy Russell on the day
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Rivage d'Or won a dramatic renewal of the Glenfarclas Handicap Chase at Cheltenham this afternoon by two and a quarter lengths from Any Currency.
The 16/1 shot was left in front following an incident at the hurdle after the final turn, where 9/2 favourite Toutancarmont jumped left into the strong travelling Quantitativeeasing, sending the pair crashing through the running rail into a photographer.
This left the Tony Martin-trained gelding to fight out the finish with Any Currency, with Uncle Junior a further length back in third.
Rivage d'Or was giving Michael O'Leary's Gigginstown House Stud their second winner of the day following Don Poli's victory in the RSA Chase and the owner was understandably delighted.
"It's been a terrific day," said O'Leary.
"I was so confident in this horse that I was up in the box having lunch. I didn't even look at him until the last two furlongs. We tried to sell him a couple of months ago but he failed the vet and he was sent back to us. It was terrific - a wonderful training performance from Tony and a great ride from Davy."
Martin was full of praise for the horse following the race.
"Throughout the race we were always happy," said Martin.
"He looked to be travelling sweetly and it was just a matter of patience. Davy (Russell - jockey) delivered him at the right time and everything worked out right.
"There was no plan really. I thought this might suit him and it's worked out wonderful. We jumped and schooled him and thought he was a natural over a bank so we held on to him until this race.
"We had a horse called Wonderkid who never won anywhere but he won well round here so it takes a certain type of horse. I always thought he was the best I had for this sort of race since Wonderkid.
"You need a horse who is agile and has a bit of heart. They need to attack the fences and have a bit of a go - it's like a good footballer as you have to be athletic."
Glenfarclas Handicap Chase (Cross Country Chase)
£60,000 added, 5yo plus, 3m 7f, Class 2
16 ran
Going: Good, Good to Soft in places
| Pos | Dist | Horse SP | Jockey /Weight | Trainer | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Rivage D'Or (FR) 16/1 | D N Russell 10-10 |
A J Martin | 10 | |
| 2nd | 2¼ | Any Currency (IRE) 7/1 | Aidan Coleman 11-11 |
M Keighley | 12 |
| 3rd | 1 | Uncle Junior (IRE) 20/1 | Mr P W Mullins 11-9 |
W P Mullins | 14 |
| 4th | 2 | Dogora (FR) 20/1 | Ms K Walsh 10-10 |
W P Mullins | 6 |
| 5th | nk | Hey Big Spender (IRE) 20/1 | Brendan Powell 11-12 |
C L Tizzard | 12 |
| 6th | s.h | Sire Collonges (FR) 11/2 | S Twiston-Davies 11-7 |
P F Nicholls | 9 |
| 7th | 3¼ | Rose Of The Moon (IRE) 33/1 | Jake Greenall 10-4 |
D O'Meara | 10 |
| 8th | ½ | Duke Of Lucca (IRE) 5/1 | R Johnson 11-1 |
P J Hobbs | 10 |
| 9th | 7 | Are Ya Right Chief (IRE) 28/1 | D E Mullins 10-3 |
W P Mullins | 10 |
| 10th | ¾ | Ipsos Du Berlais (FR) 20/1 | G N Fox (5) 10-8 |
N Meade | 9 |
| 11th | 20 | Chicago Grey (IRE) 12/1 | D J Condon 10-13 |
G Elliott | 12 |
| 12th | 6 | Nuage D'ainay (FR) 20/1 | J Reveley 10-10 |
P Quinton | 6 |
| PU | Master Rajeem (USA) 33/1 | M D Grant 10-1 |
N B King | 6 | |
| UR | Charingworth (IRE) 16/1 | Mr H A A Bannister (5) 10-6 |
K C Bailey | 12 | |
| RO | Toutancarmont (FR) 9/2f | J Plouganou 11-5 |
Mme I Pacault | 8 | |
| CO | Quantitativeeasing (IRE) 8/1 | Miss N Carberry 11-2 |
E Bolger | 10 |
Russell happy with d'Or
Jockey Davy Russell was quick to praise Rivage d'Or after the 10-year-old gave him an armchair ride over the Cross Country Course at Cheltenham this afternoon.
The 16/1 shot took to the fences like a duck to water and Russell revealed after the race that Tony Martin thought he had him in top condition ahead of this race.
"We travelled well and, to be fair to Tony, he said he had him spot on and that he'd run the race of his life," said Russell.
"It's a career best for him. I didn't have too many worries. He jumped great and we avoided all the hustle and bustle.
"We had no scares at all. He'd schooled very well the past couple of days. I was always going to let him do his own thing as he's had his problems. He's very agile, he knew all the turns and the jumps well - it was like he was on springs.
"I saw the two horses jump across me at the hurdle but I managed to avoid it all.
"I love these type of races - it's how it all began for our sport. It's great that they still hold the tradition here at what many think is the home of Jump racing."
Pounds gained hit Currency's bid
Any Currency, the 12-year-old trained in the Cotswolds by Martin Keighley, finished runner-up for the second year running.
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Keighley's wife, Belinda, summed up the frustration for her husband, his staff and the Cash Is King syndicate when saying: "I've love to tell you how I feel, but you couldn't print it!"
Any Currency had risen 17lb since he ran in the race last year, and had gone up 9lb for winning at Cheltenham's International meeting in December. His trainer said: "I don't know what to say, other than he's run a blinder. He was giving the winner [Rivage D'Or] 15lb, and the 9lb rise for winning here earlier in the season has just found him out.
"I was worried about the weight, but the horse almost defied the rise, and he's been great for his owners, taking them to some amazing places. He was so close last year and he just deserves to win - we'll be back.
"He's such a good stayer, I just wish they would put it up to four and a half miles - we might win it then! He's a bit of a monkey, but loves this course, the twists and turns and different jumps. Aidan [Coleman] had him in the right place throughout and beat them all off bar one."
Patrick Mullins rode 14-year-old Uncle Junior, a regular around Cheltenham's cross-country course, into third spot and said: "He's been showing us so much at home we decided to bring him back here. He just loves it here - as soon as he got off the box he just lit up. He's a real hero of a horse. For whatever reason he's not run so well in the handicaps at this course, but today there were a few melees and the more it got tough the more he started to enjoy himself. I thought for about 100 yards turning in I might get there, but then his run petered out."
Katie Walsh, who was fourth on the Mullins-trained Dogora, said: "He ran super when you consider it was his first time around there. He was a bit sticky at one or two early in the race, but when he got into a rhythm he was brilliant."
PAST RESULTS
2014-WINNER-BALTHAZAR KING 10-11-12 Owner-The Brushmakers; Trainer-Philip Hobbs; Jockey-Richard Johnson; SP-4/1
2ND-Any Currency 11-10-08 Owner-Cash Is King; Trainer-Martin Keighley; Jockey-Ian Popham; SP-10/1
3RD-Big Shu 9-11-09 Owner- Hugh Duffy, Richard Robinson & Caroline Woods; Trainer-Peter Maher IRE; Jockey- Paul Carberry; SP-3/1
Fav
4TH-Duke Of Lucca 9-10-10 Owner-Lesley Field; Trainer-Philip Hobbs; Jockey-Tom O’Brien; SP-25/1
16 ran, Time-8m 19.20s, Dist-sh, 3, 5
2013-WINNER-BIG SHU 8-10-05 Owner-Hugh Duffy, Richard Robinson & Caroline Woods; Trainer-Peter Maher IRE; Jockey-Barry Cash;
SP-14/1
2ND-Shakervilz 10-10-00 Owner-Wicklow Bloodstock Limited; Trainer-Willie Mullins IRE; Jockey-Ms Katie Walsh; SP-20/1
3RD-Outlaw Pete 9-10-09 Owner-J P McManus; Trainer-John Halley IRE; Jockey- Mr Josh Halley; SP-6/1
4TH-Bostons Angel 9-11-00 Owner- Elder Scouller; Trainer-Jessica Harrington IRE; Jockey-Robbie Power; SP-9/1
16 ran, Time-8m 44.70s, Dist-4, 10, 1¼ 9/4 Fav Arabella Boy (7th)
2012-WINNER-BALTHAZAR KING 8-10-09 Owner-The Brushmakers; Trainer-Philip Hobbs; Jockey-Richard Johnson; SP-11/2
2ND-A New Story 14-10-06 Owner-Storey’s Over Syndicate; Trainer-Michael Hourigan IRE; Jockey-Adrian Heskin; SP-20/1
3RD-Wedger Pardy 11-9-08 Owner-Lord Leigh; Trainer-Kim Bailey; Jockey-Miss Jacqueline Coward; SP-33/1
4TH-Sizing Australia 10-11-01 Owner-Ann & Alan Potts Partnership; Trainer-Henry de Bromhead IRE; Jockey-Andrew Lynch; SP-5/1
16 ran, Time-7m 51.70s, Dist-hd, 5, 2½ 100/30 Fav Scotsirish (PU)
2011-WINNER-SIZING AUSTRALIA 9-10-09 Owner-Ann & Alan Potts Partnership; Trainer-Henry De Bromhead IRE; Jockey-Andrew Lynch; SP-13/2
2ND-Garde Champetre 12-11-12 Owner-J P McManus; Trainer-Edna Bolger IRE; Jockey-Miss Nina Carberry; SP-5/1
3RD-A New Story 13-10-05 Owner-Storey’s Over Syndicate; Trainer-Michael Hourigan IRE; Jockey-Adrian Heskin; SP-12/1
15 ran, Time-8m 6.22s, Dist 1 ¼, 1 9/2 Fav Maljimar (4th)
2010-WINNER-A NEW STORY 12-9-07 Owner-Storey’s Over Syndicate; Trainer-Michael Hourigan IRE; Jockey-Adrian Heskin; SP33/1 2ND-L’Ami 11-11-04 Owner-J P McManus; Trainer-Enda Bolger IRE; Jockey-Mr J T McNamara; SP-4/1 3RD-Lacdoudal 11-9-12 Owner-Carol Skan; Trainer-Philip Hobbs; Jockey-Rhys Flint; SP-28/1 4TH-Another Jewel 8-10-00 Owner-F Magee; Trainer-Denis Murphy IRE; Jockey-Davy Condon; SP-16/1 16 ran, Time-8m 18.00s, Dist-2½ , 2¾ , nk 7/4 Fav Garde Champetre (5th)
2009-WINNER-GARDE CHAMPETRE 10-11-12 Owner-J P McManus; Trainer-Enda Bolger IRE; Jockey-Miss Nina Carberry; SP-7/2
2ND-L’Ami 10-11-08 Owner-J P McManus; Trainer-Enda Bolger IRE; Jockey-Mr J T McNamara; SP-7/4 Fav
3RD-Drombeag 11-10-07 Owner-J P McManus; Trainer-Enda Bolger IRE; Jockey-Robert Power; SP-7/1
4TH-A New Story 11-9-11 Owner-Storey’s Over Syndicate; Trainer-Michael Hourigan IRE; Jockey-Jack Doyle; SP-14/1 16 ran, Time-8m 47.54s, Dist-1¾, 14, 24
2008-WINNER-GARDE CHAMPETRE 9-10-13 Owner-J P McManus; Trainer-Enda Bolger IRE; Jockey-Miss Nina Carberry; SP-4/1
2ND-Native Jack 14-10-12 Owner-Gerard Burke/Robert Bagnall/N O’Farrell/K Sexton; Trainer-Philip Rothwell IRE; Jockey-Davy Russell; SP-40/1
3RD-A New Story 10-10-08 Owner-Storey’s Over Syndicate; Trainer-Michael Hourigan IRE; Jockey-Andrew McNamara; SP-20/1
4TH-Freneys Well 8-10-05 Owner-J P McManus; Trainer-Enda Bolger IRE; Jockey-Mr G Mangan (7); SP-25/1 16 ran, Time-8m 39.52s; Dist-10, 1½ , 4½ 5/2 Fav Wonderkid (6th)
2007-WINNER-HEADS
ONTHE GROUND 10-10-02 Owner-J P McManus;
Trainer-Enda Bolger IRE; Jockey-Miss Nina Carberry; SP-5/2 Fav
2ND-Silver Birch 10-11-00 Owner-Brian Walsh; Trainer-Gordon Elliott IRE;
Jockey-Jason Maguire; SP-14/1
3RD-Le Duc 8-10-10 Owner-The Stewart Family; Trainer-Paul Nicholls; Jockey-Sam
Thomas; SP-8/1
4TH-Spot Thedifference 14-11-12 Owner-J P McManus; Trainer-Enda Bolger
IRE; Jockey-Mr J T McNamara; SP-6/1
16 ran, Time-8m 43.80s, Dist-3½, 12, 5
2006-WINNER-NATIVE
JACK 12-10-08 Owner-Gerard Burke/R J Bagnall/N O’Farrell/K
Sexton; Trainer-Philip Rothwell IRE; Jockey-Davy Russell; SP-7/2 Jt Fav
2ND-Spot Thedifference 13-11-12 Owner-J P McManus; Trainer-Enda Bolger
IRE; Jockey-Mr J T McNamara; SP-12/1
3RD-Buauiltes And Fadas 11-9-11 Owner-J P McManus; Trainer-Enda Bolger
IRE; Jockey-Miss Nina Carberry; SP-6/1
4TH-Il De Boitron 8-10-06 Owner-Clonakilty Racing Club; Trainer-Thomas
O’Leary IRE; Jockey-Andrew McNamara; SP-100/1
16 ran, Time-8m 30.10s, Dist-2, 5, 5 7/2 Jt Fav Good Step (6th)
2005-WINNER-SPOT
THEDIFFERENCE 12-11-12 Owner-J P McManus; Trainer-Enda
Bolger IRE; Jockey-Mr J T McNamara; SP-4/1
2ND-Luzcadou 12-10-13 Owner-A G Chappell; Trainer-Ferdy Murphy; Jockey-Alan
O’Keeffe; SP-22/1
3RD-Mrs Be 9-9-12 Owner-J H Burridge; Trainer-Grant Cann; Jockey-Miss
Polly Gundry; SP-20/1
4TH-Lord Noelie 12-11-08 Owner-Executive Racing; Trainer-Bridget Nicholls;
Jockey-Jason Maguire; SP-14/1
16 ran, Time-8m 44.00s, Dist-2.5, 6, .75 100/30 Fav Comanche War Paint
(Fell)
