CPMS Scottish Champion Hurdle |
|
| Grade 2, Limited Handicap, Ayr 14:25 £105,000 added, 4yo plus, 2m, Class 1  |
|
| Saturday 13th April 2019 | |
1 Verdana Blue 4/1F
2 Dino Velvet 14/1
3 Equus Amadeus 16/1
14 ran NR: Mister Fisher Distances: 7l, 1¼l, ½l
Time: 3m 39.10s (fast by 0.90s)
Top weight Verdana Blue bolts up under Connor Brace
Wow! What a performance from Verdana Blue and 18-year-old jockey Connor Brace as they claim the Scottish Champion Hurdle at @ayrracecourse pic.twitter.com/K7DySx7wu1
— ITV Racing (@itvracing) April 13, 2019
Nicky Henderson took the decision to hand 7lb claimer Connor Brace the biggest ride of his career, and he was repaid in style.
Brace belied his inexperience, riding a cool waiting race before unleashing the 4-1 favourite at the last, and she sprinted clear of Dino Velvet.
“That tells you how quick the ground is – she’s lethal on this ground,” said Henderson.
“We took her to Aintree but pulled her out when it rained, and then we nearly ran her in the Further Flight at Nottingham on the Flat because we wanted to win Barry Hills’ race – but we thought it might get fast up here.
“She’s only rated 90 (on the Flat), so won’t get in the Melbourne Cup. She’s been on the go nine months, and I’d say she needs a break.
“In the end we didn’t need to claim off her, but she had that much weight I thought it was the right thing to do.”
CPMS Scottish Champion Hurdle
£105,000 added, 4yo plus, 2m, Class 1
14 ran
Going: Good
| Pos | D | Horse SP | Jockey Weight | Trainer | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Verdana Blue (IRE) 4/1f | Connor Brace (7) 11-10 |
N J Henderson | 7 | |
| 2nd | 7 | Dino Velvet (FR) 14/1 | P J Brennan 10-4 |
A King | 6 |
| 3rd | 1¼ | Equus Amadeus (IRE) 16/1 | Stan Sheppard (3) 10-5 |
Tom Lacey | 6 |
| 4th | ½ | Irish Roe (IRE) 25/1 | Henry Brooke 10-4 |
P Atkinson | 8 |
| 5th | ¾ | Leoncavallo (IRE) 17/2 | Sam Twiston-Davies 11-0 |
Dr R D P Newland | 7 |
| 6th | 1 | Nube Negra (SPA) 13/2 | Harry Skelton 10-7 |
D Skelton | 5 |
| 7th | 3¼ | Caius Marcius (IRE) 25/1 | Danny McMenamin (7) 10-10 |
N G Richards | 8 |
| 8th | 1 | Captain Moirette (FR) 20/1 | Danny Cook 10-4 |
Mrs S J Smith | 7 |
| 9th | 2¼ | Get Out The Gate (IRE) 50/1 | Callum Bewley 10-4 |
J S Goldie | 6 |
| 10th | nse | Pearl Of The West (IRE) 10/1 | Sean Bowen 10-4 |
J C McConnell | 5 |
| 11th | nk | Redicean 10/1 | Wayne Hutchinson 11-0 |
A King | 5 |
| 12th | 3¾ | Malaya (FR) 7/1 | H Cobden 10-12 |
P F Nicholls | 5 |
| 13th | 26 | Anemoi (FR) 7/1 | G Sheehan 10-5 |
H Whittington | 5 |
| PU | Brain Power (IRE) 11/1 | Nico de Boinville 11-9 |
N J Henderson | 8 | |
| WN | Mister Fisher (IRE) | Nico de Boinville 11-1 |
N J Henderson | 5 |
