QTS Scottish Champion Hurdle |
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| Grade 2, Limited Handicap, Ayr 14:55 £105,000 added, 4yo plus, 2m, Class 1  |
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| Saturday 21st April 2018 | |
1 Midnight Shadow 25/1
2 Claimantakinforgan 11/2F
3 Chesterfield 6/1
4 Charli Parcs 14/1
16 ran Distances: 1¼l, ½l, 2l
Time: 3m 41.50s (slow by 1.50s)
Midnight Shadow wins for Sue Smith and Danny Cook
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Making his first start in handicap company in this Grade Two heat, Midnight Shadow was settled on the heels of the early leaders and was primed to challenge as A Hare Breath made his run for home with three to jump.
Danny Cook kicked to the front at the penultimate flight on the Sue Smith-trained winner, but 11-2 favourite Claimantakinforgan was just starting to roll and he pushed Midnight Shadow all the way to the line, eventually being beaten a length and a quarter.
Last year's winner Chesterfield could finish only third after a mistake in the early stages, while Charli Parcs kept on for fourth.
Smith told ITV Racing: "I'm delighted with him. He's done nothing wrong all season and he's obviously appreciated this ground today.
"He's just done nothing but progress so we're really delighted."
QTS Scottish Champion Hurdle
£105,000 added, 4yo plus, 2m, Class 1
16 ran
Going: Good
| Pos | D | Horse SP | Jockey Weight | Trainer | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Midnight Shadow 25/1 | Danny Cook 10-4 |
Mrs S J Smith | 5 | |
| 2nd | 1¼ | Claimantakinforgan (FR) 11/2f | Nico de Boinville 11-3 |
N J Henderson | 6 |
| 3rd | ½ | Chesterfield (IRE) 6/1 | Daniel Sansom (5) 10-11 |
J W Mullins | 8 |
| 4th | 2 | Charli Parcs (FR) 14/1 | B J Geraghty 11-0 |
N J Henderson | 5 |
| 5th | 1 | Brelade 12/1 | D N Russell 10-10 |
G Elliott | 6 |
| 6th | ½ | Irish Roe (IRE) 20/1 | Henry Brooke 10-10 |
P Atkinson | 7 |
| 7th | nk | The Unit (IRE) 20/1 | Wayne Hutchinson 10-12 |
A King | 7 |
| 8th | 2 | A Hare Breath (IRE) 33/1 | D A Jacob 10-12 |
B Pauling | 10 |
| 9th | hd | I'm A Game Changer (IRE) (ex5) 10/1 | R Johnson 10-8 |
P J Hobbs | 6 |
| 10th | 1¾ | Flying Tiger (IRE) 17/2 | Mr Chester Williams (7) 10-10 |
Nick Williams | 5 |
| 11th | 9 | Verdana Blue (IRE) 6/1 | James Bowen (3) 11-1 |
N J Henderson | 6 |
| 12th | ½ | Beyond The Clouds 13/2 | B Hughes 10-12 |
K A Ryan | 5 |
| 13th | ½ | Ch'tibello (FR) 20/1 | Harry Skelton 11-10 |
D Skelton | 7 |
| 14th | 11 | Sir Chauvelin 20/1 | Callum Bewley (3) 10-4 |
J S Goldie | 6 |
| 15th | 58 | Attest 40/1 | Harry Bannister 10-4 |
W Greatrex | 5 |
| PU | Flashing Glance 12/1 | R T Dunne 10-4 |
Tom Lacey | 5 |
