Sodexo Live! Gold Cup Handicap Chase

Grade 3, Ascot 15:45
£100,000 guaranteed,
4yo plus,
2m 7f 180y, Class 1    
Saturday 2nd November 2024

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1 Chianti Classico 11/4F
2 Highstakesplayer 9/2
3 Neon Moon 11/2
10 ran NR: Our Power Distances: 3l, 1¼l, 3¼l
Time: 5m 58.38s (slow by 3.38s)

Chianti Classico defied a rating of 152 and top-weight to win the feature at Ascot. Kim Bailey's charge had a stellar first season over fences, winning his first two starts, including one over course and distance, before adding the Ultima at the Cheltenham Festival to his tally. He concluded the season with a fourth-place finish in a Grade One at Aintree.

Tom Bellamy took Chianti Classico to the front, and the pair enjoyed an uncontested lead. Despite challenges from rivals in the home straight, Chianti Classico always seemed in control and ran on resolutely to win by three lengths.

Highstakesplayer, who had won four out of five over fences coming into the race, was the closest pursuer. He might have finished closer but for a slight error at the second last. He pulled over a length clear of Neon Moon, who traveled strongly into the race but faltered in the heat of the battle.

"Absolutely class," said Bellamy. "I was a passenger, to be honest. I slowed him up where I could because every time he saw a fence, we were flying. He's as fit as he could be, but it's still his first run of the season, so I gave him breathers when I could. That's the beauty of an easy lead; you can dictate and not have to look for silly strides. It was just fantastic fun."

Bailey is hopeful that Chianti Classico will develop into an Aintree contender, saying, "This horse will stay forever. I've always seen him as a Grand National horse. The handicapper might have a say in that because you wouldn't want to carry a huge amount of weight in the Grand National. We'll mull it over. We were planning on going to the Becher Chase after today, but we'll see."

Bailey also praised Bellamy, saying, "Tom started riding out for me when he was 13 years old, so I've known him for a long time. When David (Bass) decided to move on, Tom was riding out, and it fitted in. Thankfully, it's gone very well. His first day officially riding for me was at Worcester, and he rode three winners. He's a very talented rider with plenty of experience, a cool head, and he's a horseman."

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Sodexo Gold Cup Handicap Chase
£100,000 guaranteed, 4yo plus, 2m 7f 180y, Class 1
10 ran
Going: Good

POS. DIST HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER JOCKEY SP
1     Chianti Classico 7 12-0 Kim Bailey Tom Bellamy 11/4F
2 3 Highstakesplayer 8 10-11 Tom Lacey Stan Sheppard 9/2
3 1¼ Neon Moon 8 10-12 David Pipe Jack Tudor 11/2
4 3¼ Two For Gold 11 11-13 Kim Bailey Ciaran Gethings 20/1
5 1¼ Hidden Depths 9 10-5 Neil Mulholland Sam Twiston-Davies 14/1
6 7½ Mylesfromwicklow 7 10-7 Dan Skelton Kielan Woods 15/2
7 hd Amirite 8 11-4 Henry De Bromhead Mike O'Connor 7/2
8 1¼ Flegmatik 9 11-1 Dan Skelton Tristan Durrell 22/1
9 19 Kitty's Light 8 11-5 Christian Williams Nick Scholfield 40/1
10 ¾ Solo 8 11-9 Paul Nicholls Lorcan Williams 20/1
NR 5 Our Power 9 11-5 Sam Thomas NON RUNNER

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