Doom Bar Sefton Novices' Hurdle |
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| Grade 1, Aintree 16:40 £100,000 added, 4yo plus, 3m 110y, Class 1  |
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| Friday 10th April 2015 | |
1 Thistlecrack 25/1
2 Vyta Du Roc 10/3
3 Our Kaempfer 20/1
NR: Minella Rocco (IRE)
16 ran Distances: 13l, ½l, 9l
TIME 6m 4.10s (slow by 10.10s)
Thistlecrack takes the Doom Bar Sefton Novices' Hurdle under Tom Scudamore for Colin Tizzard
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Colin Tizzard plans to take Thistlecrack to Punchestown for his next run after the Kayf Tara gelding won the Grade One Doom Bar Sefton Novices' Hurdle by 13 lengths under Tom Scudamore.
Tizzard said: "He's a seven-year-old, and he's had his little issues, which is why this is his first full season racing, really. He's always been bloody good. The step up in trip has played right into his hands. The dam [Ardstown] was a thorough stayer. It was straightforward today."
When asked whether Thistlecrack, who went off at 25/1, would stay over hurdles next season, he said: "I think there's a bit more this year yet. He's entered at Punchestown in the three-mile novice hurdle. If he's fine in the next few days he'll go there. I wouldn't have thought he'd stay over hurdles after that. He'll be a beautiful horse for chasing. He's got enough pace to win over two miles and he stays - he's got everything at the moment."
Punchestown is also the target for Cue Card, second to Don Cossack in the Betfred Melling Chase.
Tizzard said "That was a lovely run. You just wonder what Don Cossack was doing 26 lengths in front of him. He beat the rest fine, didn't he? I think he needs to be back racing now he can breathe again. We'll probably take him to Punchestown."
Doom Bar Sefton Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1)
£100,000 added, 4yo plus, 3m 110y, Class 1
16 ran
Going: Good to Soft, Good in places
| Pos | Dist | Horse SP | Jockey Weight | Trainer | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Thistlecrack 25/1 | T Scudamore 11-4 |
C L Tizzard | 7 | |
| 2nd | 13 | Vyta Du Roc (FR) 10/3 | D A Jacob 11-4 |
N J Henderson | 6 |
| 3rd | ½ | Our Kaempfer (IRE) 20/1 | N D Fehily 11-4 |
C E Longsdon | 6 |
| 4th | 9 | Blaklion 9/1 | Sam Twiston-Davies 11-4 |
N A Twiston-Davies | 6 |
| 5th | 10 | Foryourinformation 14/1 | P Townend 11-4 |
Miss R Curtis | 6 |
| 6th | 8 | Thomas Brown 14/1 | Nick Scholfield 11-4 |
H Fry | 6 |
| PU | Final Nudge (IRE) 66/1 | B Hughes 11-4 |
David Dennis | 6 | |
| PU | Flintham 16/1 | Nico de Boinville 11-4 |
M Bradstock | 6 | |
| PU | King's Tempest 50/1 | G Sheehan 11-4 |
W Greatrex | 6 | |
| PU | Monbeg Theatre (IRE) 66/1 | Brendan Powell 11-4 |
Jamie Snowden | 6 | |
| PU | One For Arthur (IRE) 40/1 | P Buchanan 11-4 |
Miss Lucinda V Russell | 6 | |
| PU | Ordo Ab Chao (IRE) 8/1 | D F O'Regan 11-4 |
A King | 6 | |
| PU | Parish Business (IRE) 33/1 | Aidan Coleman 11-4 |
Miss E C Lavelle | 7 | |
| PU | Roi Des Francs (FR) 3/1f | R Walsh 11-4 |
W P Mullins | 6 | |
| PU | Zeroeshadesofgrey (IRE) 16/1 | Trevor Whelan 11-4 |
N B King | 6 | |
| F | Alpha Des Obeaux (FR) 8/1 | R Johnson 11-4 |
M F Morris | 5 | |
| NR | Minella Rocco (IRE) 7/2 | A P McCoy 11-4 |
Jonjo O'Neill | 5 |
THISTLE DO NICELY
Jockey Tom Scudamore was delighted with the performance of Thistlecrack after the 25/1 shot romped to a 13 length victory.
The seven-year-old relished every yard of the three mile and half a furlong trip and, although his job was made easier by the final flight fall of nearest challenger Alpha Des Obeaux, he stayed on strongly to give trainer Colin Tizzard his first winner of this year's Crabbie's Grand National Festival.
"He's obviously stayed the trip!" said Scudamore.
"He's been running well over two miles - he was fifth in the Imperial Cup last time out - and Colin said to me in the paddock before the race that he was no 25/1 shot.
"He travelled like a dream, jumped well and, from a long way out, I was pretty confident to be honest. He showed a very good attitude and that's the stamp of a good horse. He'll make a lovely chaser and is a very exciting horse for Colin to have."
HOLIDAY TIME FOR VYTA
Trainer Nicky Henderson was pleased with Vyta Du Roc's effort when finished 13 lengths second to Thistlecrack.
"He ran a great race, it was a fantastic effort," said Henderson. "He's done nothing wrong and was very unlucky at Cheltenham last time, where he should have been second. That's it now and he goes novice chasing next season. He should be good."
Our Kaempfer chased Vyta Du Roc home to take third to the delight of trainer Charlie Longsdon, who said: "I'm really pleased with him. I don't think he quite saw out the trip. It's difficult because we're running from last place the whole time and the front two had almost gone by the time he got into the race. Noel [Fehily, jockey] said that he got into second place after the last but he didn't quite see the trip out.
"He's run a blinder though - he's run his heart out and he's a different horse to the one who bolted to the start earlier this season. He's a horse to really look forward to next year."
