RSA Chase |
|
| Grade 1, Cheltenham 14:05 £150,000 added, 5yo plus, 3m 110y, Class 1  |
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| Wednesday 11th March 2015 | |
1 Don Poli 13/8F
2 Southfield Theatre 13/2
3 Wounded Warrior 12/1
NR: The Ould Lad (IRE)
8 ran Distances: 6l, 1½l, hd
TIME 6m 9.20s (slow by 6.20s)
Don Poli beats Southfield Theatre in the RSA. Wounded Warrior stayed on for third
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The all-conquering Willie Mullins enjoyed his fifth success of the 2015 Festival when Don Poli ran out an impressive winner of the RSA Chase.
"I'm just enjoying everything going on and marvelling at my week. I'm not thinking about what will happen," said Mullins.
"It was a terrific performance by Don Poli. He idled a lot of the way when he got to the front and he realised he was in a race, he just switched on, switched off, switched on. Bryan (Cooper) was worried about getting to the front too soon in the parade ring before the race and I thought: 'If you can get to the front around Cheltenham, you hold on. This fellow will have a lot of reserves in the locker'. He has all the ability in the world but long distance runners have to keep a bit back for themselves. It's harder on the jockeys, but that's their problem.
"He had far more reserves in the locker than I thought he would have. His two ears are moving back and forward and, when a horse is doing that, he is only idling - he's going at half-speed and is ready for anything that comes from behind. He's not even racing coming up the straight, he is only galloping, looking around. It's a sure sign that he has got lots left in the locker. Florida Pearl was probably the best RSA winner that I have ever had and this fellow looks as good as him although they are different types.
"If we take the RSA as the meeting of the best novices in the British Isles - Ireland, England, wherever - and he has destroyed them. The only road he can go is the Gold Cup. I'd imagine he'll go to Punchestown next but he looks a Gold Cup horse in the making."
RSA Chase
£150,000 added, 5yo plus, 3m 110y, Class 1
8 ran
Going: Good, Good to Soft in places
| Pos | Dist | Horse SP | Jockey /Weight | Trainer | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Don Poli (IRE) 13/8f | B J Cooper 11-4 |
W P Mullins | 6 | |
| 2nd | 6 | Southfield Theatre (IRE) 13/2 | S Twiston-Davies 11-4 |
P F Nicholls | 7 |
| 3rd | 1½ | Wounded Warrior (IRE) 12/1 | P Carberry 11-4 |
N Meade | 6 |
| 4th | hd | Adriana Des Mottes (FR) 14/1 | R Walsh 10-9 |
W P Mullins | 5 |
| 5th | ½ | If In Doubt (IRE) 12/1 | A P McCoy 11-4 |
P J Hobbs | 7 |
| 6th | 16 | Kings Palace (IRE) 4/1 | T Scudamore 11-4 |
D Pipe | 7 |
| 7th | 29 | The Young Master 11/2 | B J Geraghty 11-4 |
N P Mulholland | 6 |
| PU | Apache Jack (IRE) 33/1 | D J Condon 11-4 |
Ms S Hughes | 7 | |
| NR | The Ould Lad (IRE) | P J Brennan 11-4 |
T R George | 7 |
Roly-Poli fortunes for Cooper
Twelve months to the day since suffering a very badly broken leg, jockey Bryan Cooper experienced a far happier moment at The Cheltenham Festival.
Riding Don Poli for the near-invincible trainer Willie Mullins, Cooper landed the RSA Chase, his mount beating Southfield Theatre and Wounded Warrior by six lengths and one and a half lengths. The first and third are owned by Michael O'Leary's Gigginstown House Stud.
Don Poli had to be niggled by Cooper more or less throughout the race, yet he jumped the last with ears pricked and won cosily. The jockey said: "He was very good - he wouldn't be called 'exciting' early on in the race because he's quite lazy, but he won with plenty left up his sleeve and could have gone around again.
"He stays so well and might have won the four-miler if he'd run in that, but he's a lovely horse and going the right way. It's only his third race over fences so he's a horse to look forward to next season.
"I'm glad to put that [the broken leg] behind and it's sweet to get a winner on the board."
Michael O'Leary said: "He always seemed to be comfortable. He had to be pushed along for a bit down the back but he's a bit like that as he's very lazy and had to be woken up. If anything, he ended up in front a bit too soon but Bryan gave him a peach of a ride and it's another outstanding training performance from Willie. The man's a genius.
"I wasn't worried about his experience. He's had plenty of jumping in France and it helped that there was a slightly smaller field. I thought Wounded Warrior ran really well for Noel [Meade - trainer]. It's very nice not to have to wait until Friday for your first winner of The Festival [O'Leary had four winners on Gold Cup day last year].
"I wouldn't be dreaming of anything yet. I'll enjoy today, there's no point in planning for next year. I had Sir Des Champs here before and looked what happened to him, he did a leg, so I'll enjoy the wins at Cheltenham as they're incredibly difficult to come by unless you're Willie Mullins or J P [McManus]. Next year can look after itself."
Twiston-Davies happy with Southfield effort
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The jockey added about the Paul Nicholls-trained seven-year-old: "He's probably bumped into a very good horse. His mistake at the final fence wouldn't have helped him but he has run a solid race."
Paul Carberry was pleased with the run of third-placed Wounded Warrior trained by Noel Meade. The six-year-old stayed on well to snatch third late on. Carberry said: "He has stayed on well, we went a nice gallop, when we went away from the stands on the final circuit, the leaders picked it up again. He was staying on strongly at the end and jumped really well which was a big help."
As for the future, Carberry suggested: "He's probably an Irish National type of a horse."
Previous results
RSA CHASE
2014-O'FAOLAINS BOY 7-11-04 Owner-Trembath, Hyde, Outhart & Hill; Trainer-Rebecca Curtis; Jockey-Barry Geraghty; SP- 12/1
2ND-Smad Place 7-11-04 Owner-Mrs Peter Andrews; Trainer-Alan King; Jockey-Robert Thornton; SP-13/2 Jt-Fav
3RD-Morning Assembly 7-11-04 Owner-Clipper Logistics Group Ltd; Trainer-Pat Fahy IRE; Jockey-Davy Russell; SP-9/1
15 ran, Time-6m 0.32s(record) Dist-nk, 6 13/2 Jt-Fav Ballycasey (4th)
2013-WINNER-LORD WINDERMERE 7-11-04 Owner-Dr Ronan Lambe; Trainer-Jim Culloty IRE; Jockey-Davy Russell; SP-8/1
2ND-Lyreen Legend 6-11-04 Owner-Lyreen Syndicate; Trainer-Dessie Hughes IRE; Jockey-Bryan Cooper; SP-10/1
3RD-Hadrian’s Approach 6-11-04 Owner-Richard & Lizzie Kelvin Hughes; Trainer-Nicky Henderson; Jockey-Barry Geraghty; SP-7/1
11 ran, Time-6m 25.80s Dist-1¾, 6 5/2 Fav Unioniste (4th)
2012-WINNER-BOBS WORTH 7-11-04 Owner-The Not Afraid Partnership; Trainer-Nicky Henderson; Jockey-Barry Geraghty; SP-9/2
2ND-First Lieutenant 7-11-04 Owner-Gigginstown House Stud; Trainer-Mouse Morris IRE; Jockey-Davy Russell; SP-9/2
3RD-Call The Police 9-11-04 Owner-DD Racing Syndicate; Trainer-Willie Mullins IRE; Jockey-Paul Townend; SP-20/1
9 ran, Time-6m 8.00s Dist-2½, 11 6/5 Fav Grands Crus (4th)
2011-WINNER-BOSTONS ANGEL 7-11-04 Owner-Elder Scouller; Trainer-Jessica Harrington IRE; Jockey-Robert Power; SP-16/1 2ND-Jessies Dream 8-11-04 Owner-David Johnson; Trainer-Gordon Elliott IRE; Jockey-Timmy Murphy; SP-10/1 3RD-Wayward Prince 7-11-04 Owner-John & Hilary Parrott; Trainer-Ian Williams; Jockey-A P McCoy; SP-15/2
12 ran, Time-6m 16.55s Dist-nk, 3⁄4 7/4 Fav Time For Rupert (5th)
2010-WINNER-WEAPON’S AMNESTY 7-11-04 Owner-Gigginstown House Stud; Trainer-Charles Byrnes IRE; Jockey-Davy Russell; SP-10/1 2ND-Burton Port 6-11-04 Owner-Trevor Hemmings; Trainer-Nicky Henderson; Jockey-Tony McCoy; SP-9/1 3RD-Long Run 5-11-03 Owner-Robert Waley-Cohen; Trainer-Nicky Henderson; Jockey-Mr Sam Waley-Cohen; SP-11/4 9 ran, Time-6m 13.50s Dist-7, sh 2/1 Fav Punchestowns (5th)
2009-WINNER-COOLDINE 7-11-04 Owner-Violet O’Leary; Trainer-Willie Mullins IRE; Jockey-Ruby Walsh; SP-9/4 Fav
2ND-Horner Woods 7-11-04 Owner-Howard Spooner; Trainer-Jessica Harrington IRE; Jockey-Robert Power; SP-66/1
3RD-Massini’s Maguire 8-11-04 Owner-Alan Paterson; Trainer-Paul Nicholls; Jockey-Richard Johnson; SP-10/1
15 ran, Time-6m 22.80s. Dist-16, 9
2008-WINNER-ALBERTAS RUN 7-11-04 Owner-Trevor Hemmings; Trainer-Jonjo O’Neill; Jockey-Tony McCoy; SP-4/1 Fav
2ND-Roll Along 8-11-04 Owner-Bryan & Philippa Burrough; Trainer-Carl Llewellyn; Jockey-Timmy Murphy’ SP-20/1
3RD-Battlecry 7-11-04 Owner-Hamsard Ltd; Trainer-Nigel Twiston-Davies; Jockey-Paddy Brennan; SP-25/1
11 ran, Time-6m 23.5s Dist-4½, 3½
2007-WINNER-DENMAN 7-11-04 Owner-Maggie Findlay & Paul
Barber; Trainer-Paul Nicholls; Jockey-Ruby Walsh; SP-6/5 Fav
2ND-Snowy Morning 7-11-04 Owner-Quayside Syndicate; Trainer-Willie Mullins
IRE; Jockey-Mick Fitzgerald; SP-10/1
3RD-According To John 7-11-04 Owner-Sir Robert Ogden; Trainer-Nicky Richards;
Jockey-Tony Dobbin; SP-66/1 17 ran, Time-6m 6.80s Dist-10, 3½
2006-WINNER-STAR
DE MOHAISON 5-10-08 Owner-Sir Robert Ogden; Trainer-Paul
Nicholls; Jockey-Barry Geraghty; SP-14/1
2ND-Idle Talk 7-11-04 Owner-Mrs M J George; Trainer-Tom George; Jockey-Jason
Maguire; SP-33/1
3RD-Darkness 7-11-04 Owner-Lady Lloyd-Webber; Trainer-Charles Egerton;
Jockey-Paddy Brennan; SP-11/2
15 ran, Time-6m 9.20s Dist-6, 11 9/2 Fav Commercial Flyer (PU)
2005-WINNER-TRABOLGAN 7-11-04 Owner-Trevor Hemmings; Trainer-Nicky Henderson;
Jockey-Mick FitzGerald;SP- 5/1
2ND-Comply Or Die 6-11-04 Owner-David Johnson; Trainer-Martin Pipe; Jockey-Timmy
Murphy; SP-3/1 Fav
3RD-Cornish Rebel 8-11-04 Owner-Graham Roach; Trainer-Paul Nicholls;
Jockey-Ruby Walsh; SP-9/2
9 ran, Time-6m 12.85s Dist-3, 3
2004-WINNER-RULE SUPREME 8-11-04 Owner-John Lynch; Trainer-Willie Mullins
IRE; Jockey-David Casey; SP-25/1
2ND-Royal Emperor 8-11-04 Owner-Widdop Wanderers; Trainer-Sue Smith;
Jockey-Dominic Elsworth; SP-6/1
3RD-Our Vic 6-11-04 Owner-David Johnson; Trainer-Martin Pipe; Jockey-Tony
McCoy; SP-11/8 Fav
10 ran, Time-6m 9.70s Dist-1½, 2
2003-WINNER-ONE KNIGHT 7-11-04 Owner-Robert Gibbs; Trainer-Philips Hobbs;
Jockey-Richard Johnson; SP-15/2
2ND-Jair Du Cochet 6-11-04 Owner-Miriam Montauban; Trainer-Guillaume
Macaire FR; Jockey-Jacques Ricou; SP-4/1
3RD-Barrow Drive 7-11-04 Owner-Mrs B Leniham; Trainer-Tony Mullins IRE;
Jockey-Barry Geraghty; SP-9/1 9 ran, Time-6m 14.90s Dist- 1¾,
10 9/4 Fav Keen Leader (5th)
2002-WINNER-HUSSARD COLLONGES 7-11-04 Owner-Nick Bannister; Trainer-Peter
Beaumont; Jockey-Russ Garritty; SP-33/1
2ND-Iznogoud 6-11-04 Owner-County Stores-Avalon Surfacing; Trainer-Martin
Pipe; Jockey-Tony McCoy; SP-14/1
3RD-Chives 7-11-04 Owner-Trevor Hemmings; Trainer-Henrietta Knight; Jockey-Richard
Guest; SP-33/1
19 ran, Time-6m 35.65s Dist- 2, 4 9/2 Fav Colonel Braxton (5th)
2001-Cancelled
2000-WINNER-LORD NOELIE 7-11-04 Owner-Executive Racing; Trainer-Henrietta
Knight; Jockey-Jim Culloty; SP-9/2
2ND-Alexander Banquet 7-11-04 Owner-Miriam O’Callaghan; Trainer-Willie
Mullins; Jockey-Ruby Walsh; SP-9/2
3RD-Toto Toscato 6-11-04 Owner-Hilda Clarke; Trainer-Alan King; Jockey-Richard
Johnson; SP-11/1
9 ran Time-6m 5.3s Dist-1¼, hd 7/2 Fav-Native Upmanship (4th)
1999-WINNER-LOOKS LIKE TROUBLE 7-11-04 Owner-Universal
Conference & Incentive
Trv Ltd; Trainer-Noel Chance; Jockey-Paul Carberry; SP-16/1
2ND-Lord Of The River 7-11-04 Owner-Brian Stewart-Brown; Trainer-Oliver
Sherwood; Jockey-Tony McCoy; SP-11/2
3RD-Billingsgate 7-11-04 Owner-Dr David and Mrs B Chesney; Trainer-David
Elsworth; Jockey-Paul Holley;
SP-25/1 14 ran Time-6m 21.5s Dist-dist, 3 5/4 Fav-Nick Dundee (fell)
1998-WINNER-FLORIDA PEARL 6-11-04 Owner-Violet
O’Leary; Trainer-Willie
Mullins IRE; Jockey-Richard Dunwoody; SP-11/8 Fav
2ND-Escartefigue 6-11-04 Owner-Darren Mercer; Trainer-David Nicholson;
Jockey-Adrian Maguire; SP-5/1
3RD-Fulip 5-10-08 Owner-Roger Barby; Trainer-Francois Doumen FR; Jockey-Mr
Thierry Doumen; SP-9/1
10 ran Time-6m 8.3s Dist-1½, 19
1997-WINNER-HANAKHAM 8-11-04 Owner-Malcolm Brereton; Trainer-Ron Hodges;
Jockey-Richard Dunwoody; SP-13/2
2ND-Eudipe 5-10-08 Owner-David Johnson; Trainer-Martin Pipe; Jockey-Tony
McCoy; SP-4/1
3RD-Djeddah 6-11-04 Owner-Stella Elkaim; Trainer-Francois Doumen FR;
Jockey-Adam Kondrat; SP-100/30 Fav 14 ran Time-6m 8.8s, Dist-2½,
5
RSA CHASE ROLL OF HONOUR
(RSA Chase from 2009, Royal & SunAlliance Chase 1998-2008, Royal Sun Alliance Chase 1997, Sun Alliance Chase 1974-96, Totalisator Champion Chase 1971-73, Totalisator Champion Novices’ Chase 1964-1970, Broadway Chase 1961-63, Broadway Novices’ Chase before 1961)
Year Winner Age/Wt Jockey Trainer Owner SP Ran
1996 Nahthen Lad 7-11-04 Warren Marston Jenny Pitman Jim Shaw 7/1 12
1995 Brief Gale 8-10-13 Philip Hide Josh Gifford Carrie Zetter 13/2 13
1994 Monsieur Le Cure 8-11-04 Peter Niven John Edwards Hector Brown 15/2
18
1993 Young Hustler 6-11-04 Peter Scudamore Nigel Twiston-Davies Gavin
MacEchern 9/4 8
1992 Miinnehoma 9-11-04 Peter Scudamore Martin Pipe Freddie Starr 7/2F
18
1991 Rolling Ball 8-11-04 Peter Scudamore Martin Pipe Hilda Clarke 7/2F
20
1990 Garrison Savannah 7-11-04 Ben de Haan Jenny Pitman Autofour Engineering
12/1 9
1989 Envopak Token 8-11-04 Peter Hobbs Josh Gifford Frank Arthur 16/1
15
1988 The West Awake 7-11-04 Simon Sherwood Oliver Sherwood Maggie Heath
11/4F 14
1987 Kildimo 7-11-04 Graham Bradley Toby Balding Lady Harris 13/2 18
1986 Cross Master 9-11-04 Reg Crank Tom Bill Harlow Bros 16/1 30
1985 Antarctic Bay 8-11-04 Frank Berry Pat Hughes IRE P Meade 6/4F 11
1984 A Kinsman 8-11-04 Geordie Dun John Brockbank Mrs John Brockbank
10/1 18
1983 Canny Danny 7-11-04 Niall Madden Jimmy FitzGerald P Norton 33/1
14
1982 Brown Chamberlin 7-11-04 John Francome Fred Winter Mrs Coral Samuel
7/1 15
1981 Lesley Ann 7-11-04 Colin Brown David Elsworth Brian Gaule 25/1 17
1980 Lacson 8-11-04 Steve Knight Bob Hawker Bob Hawker 16/1 17
1979 Master Smudge 7-11-04 Richard Hoare Arthur Barrow Arthur Barrow
16/1 17
1978 Sweet Joe 6-11-04 Steve Smith Eccles Tom Jones Milton Ritzenberg
12/1 17
1977 Gay Spartan 6-11-04 Michael Dickinson Tony Dickinson M Armstrong
13/2 15
1976 Tied Cottage 8-11-00 Tommy Carberry Dan Moore IRE Anthony Stanley
Robinson 12/1 15
1975 Pengrail 7-11-00 John Francome Fred Winter Mrs G Morton 12/1 11
1974 Ten Up 7-11-00 Tommy Carberry Jim Dreaper IRE Anne, Duchess of Westminster
7/2 12
1973 Killiney 7-11-03 Richard Pitman Fred Winter Enid Boucher 8/15F 9
1972 Clever Scot 7-11-07 David Mould Tom Jones Milton Ritzenberg 11/1
18
1971 Tantalum 7-11-07 David Nicholson Michael Pope Colonel S W Green
14/1 16
1970 Proud Tarquin 7-11-12 Pat Taaffe Tom Dreaper IRE John Thomson 100/7
17
1969 Spanish Steps 6-11-12 John Cook Edward Courage Edward Courage 100/8
22
1968 Herring Gull 6-11-12 Joe Crowley Paddy Mullins IRE Mrs G A J Wilson
9/1 16
1967 Border Jet 7-11-00 Josh Gifford Ryan Price Lady Weir 4/1F 19
1966 Different Class 6-11-12 David Mould Peter Cazalet Gregory Peck 10/1
17
1965 Arkloin 6-11-07 Liam McLoughlin Tom Dreaper IRE George Ansley 100/7
17
1964 Buona notte 7-12-04 Johnnie Haine Bob Turnell Jim Joel 11/8F 16
1963 Arkle 6-12-04 Pat Taaffe Tom Dreaper IRE Duchess Of Westminster
4/9F 15
1962 Caduval 7-11-08 Laurie Morgan Bogden Lubecki Bogden Lubecki 11/2
13
1961 Grallagh Cnoc 7-12-01 Pat Taaffe Joe Osborne IRE Mrs K Harper 8/13F
17
1960 Solfen 8-11-12 Pat Taaffe Willie O’Grady IRE B Naughton 5/4F
21
1959 Mac Joy 7-11-12 Arthur Freeman Ken Bailey W C Simpson 4/1 11
1958 Just Awake 6-11-08 Arthur Freeman Peter Cazalet Bill Whitbread 100/7
19
1957 Mandarin 6-12-01 Michael Scudamore Fulke Walwyn Peggy Hennessy 8/1
14
1956 Polar Flight 6-11-08 Tommy Cusack George Spann Mrs P Pleydell-Bouverie
100/7 19
1955 Great Eliza 7-11-13 B Cooper Danny Morgan IRE Mrs N Hope Collins
7/2F 23
1954 Glenbeigh 8-11-13 Dave Dick Fulke Walwyn Dorothy Paget EvsF 16
1953 Coneyburrow 7-11-03 Pat Taaffe Joe Osborne IRE I E Levy 100/8 13
1952 Good And Plenty 8-11-08 Jimmy Power Jack Fawcus Lady Joicey 8/1
18
1951 On View 8-11-13 Bryan Marshall Fulke Walwyn Dorothy Paget 8/1 23
1950 (I) Manicou 5-11-06 Lord Mildmay Peter Cazalet Lord Mildmay 2/1F
9
1950 (II) Arctic Gold 5-10-13 Glen Kelly Gerald Balding John Hay Whitney
100/30 9
1949 (I) Glen Fire 6-11-02 Mr J Spencer Syd Mercer J G Greenaway 100/8
19
1949 (II) Comeragh 8-11-02 D Kelly Major Noel Furlong Major Noel Furlong
10/1 10
1948 (I) Blakely Grove 7-11-04 Joe Maguire Ivor Anthony Paul Mellon 5/4F
17
1948 (II) Mountain Prince 9-11-04 Bryan Marshall Fulke Walwyn Dorothy
Paget 100/8 15
1947 No race (snow and frost)
1946 Birthlaw 11-11-07 Ted Vinall Tommy Rayson Mrs V Bruce 20/1 16
