Christy 1965 Chase |
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| Grade 2, Ascot 14:05 £70,000 added, 4yo plus, 2m 5f 8y, Class 1  |
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| Saturday 25th November 2017 | |
1 Top Notch 5/2JF
2 Double Shuffle 12/1
3 Frodon 8/1
9 ran Distances: 8l, 2¼l, 1¾l
Time: 5m 15.60s (slow by 7.60s)
Top Notch produces a dominant eight lengths victory
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Smad Place was prominent early on, while last year's winner Royal Regatta forced his way into the lead after being slowly away from a standing start.
Nico de Boinville had Top Notch in the perfect position and the 5-2 joint-favourite went on to score by eight lengths from Double Shuffle for owners Simon Munir and Isaac Souede. Frodon was another two and a quarter lengths away in third.
De Boinville said: "He's a legend - what an absolute hero.
"He's all heart and kept finding up the hill.
"He's given me a really nice feeling there."
Top Notch was cut to odds of around 6-1 about winning the Ryanair Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.
Henderson said: "If you had a poll of the most popular horse in the place, he would win. Everybody loves him. You could not have a nicer horse.
"He would die for you and he has been like that all his life. I never thought he would jump a fence as they must look enormous to him.
"He is just game, tough and loves it. He came back in fatter than me. These horses are just taking a run.
"He didn't run particularly well when he was third of three (over hurdles) at Aintree (on November 11). It was all well saying it was fine but it was still a little bit disappointing.
"I think this is his perfect trip. One day we might have a peep at three (miles).
"He goes on any ground and any way round. A lot of horses are more talented, but nobody puts more in than he does."
Christy 1965 Chase
£70,000 added, 4yo plus, 2m 5f 8y, Class 1
9 ran
Going: Good to Soft, Good in places
| Pos | D | Horse SP | Jockey Weight | Trainer | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Top Notch (FR) 5/2j | Nico de Boinville 11-4 |
N J Henderson | 6 | |
| 2nd | 8 | Double Shuffle (IRE) 12/1 | J J Burke 11-1 |
T R George | 7 |
| 3rd | 2¼ | Frodon (FR) 8/1 | Sean Bowen 11-5 |
P F Nicholls | 5 |
| 4th | 1¾ | Flying Angel (IRE) 7/1 | Thomas Bellamy 11-4 |
N A Twiston-Davies | 6 |
| 5th | 15 | Smad Place (FR) 5/2j | Wayne Hutchinson 11-7 |
A King | 10 |
| 6th | 32 | Josses Hill (IRE) 10/1 | Aidan Coleman 11-7 |
N J Henderson | 9 |
| PU | Royal Regatta (IRE) 20/1 | T J O'Brien 11-7 |
P J Hobbs | 9 | |
| PU | Sizing Granite (IRE) 33/1 | R T Dunne 11-5 |
C L Tizzard | 9 | |
| PU | Top Gamble (IRE) 10/1 | J E Moore 11-1 |
Kerry Lee | 9 |
