Coral Scottish Champion Hurdle |
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| Grade 2, Limited Handicap, Ayr 14:25 £60,000 guaranteed, 4yo plus, 2m, Class 1  |
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1 Anna Bunina 6/1
2 West Cork 5/2F
3 Onemorefortheroad 4/1
8 ran NR: Kihavah Distances: 1l, ¾l, 5l
Time: 3m 47.07s (slow by 6.07s)
Anna Bunina swoops late under a fine ride from @Sean_Bowen_ in a thrilling finish to the @Coral Scottish Champion Hurdle for trainer @McConnellRacing pic.twitter.com/V8U9Pnsz8n https://t.co/eTeGGp89or via @RacingBetter
— RacingBetter (@RacingBetter) April 3, 2022
Runner-up to Milkwood in 2021, who was fifth in this year's renewal, Anna Bunina chance travelled strongly under Sean Bowen but was short of room going to the last as eventual runner-up West Cork and third home Onemoretheroad duelled up front.
However switched to the stands' side, John McConnell's charge picked up nicely to get on top in the closing stages and win by a length.
“She’s got Flat speed and she certainly showed it there,” said McConnell.
“I’m over the moon because she got a really serious injury when she finished second in it last year, she got some birch in a tendon and it was touch and go for a while.
“It’s taken a while for her to get her confidence back. It probably looks like a big plan but it really hasn’t been, it’s probably more luck.
“She’s actually on a decent mark on the Flat, it’s something we’ve never really pursued but she’d have to be competitive off that mark (81).
“We’ll look at all those good handicaps, we might look at the Swinton (Hurdle) at Haydock, it’s a flat, left-handed track which she likes.
“Given what happened last year we’re elated, it’s been a big team effort to get her back.”
Coral Scottish Champion Hurdle
£60,000 guaranteed, 4yo plus, 2m, Class 1
8 ran
Going: Good to Soft, Good in places
POS. DIST HORSE AGE WGT JOCKEY TRAINER SP
1 Anna Bunina 6 10-4 John C McConnell Sean Bowen 6/1
2 1 West Cork 8 11-2 Dan Skelton Harry Skelton 5/2F
3 ¾ Onemorefortheroad 7 10-10 Neil King Jack Quinlan 4/1
4 5 Voix Du Reve 10 10-9 Iain Jardine Tom Midgley 16/1
5 1¼ Milkwood 8 11-10 Neil Mulholland Sam Twiston-Davies 13/2
6 1¼ Alqamar 8 10-6 James Moffatt Charlotte Jones 11/1
7 7½ Barrichello 6 10-8 Donald McCain Brian Hughes 6/1
8 8 Socialist Agenda 6 10-4 L J Morgan Adam Wedge 12/1
NR 9 Kihavah 5 10-4 Adrian Paul Keatley NON RUNNER
