racing_news/

Grands Crus Sails to Cleeve Hurdle Victory
29/01/11

1 Grands Crus 2/1F
2 Knockara Beau 33/1
3 Restless Harry 7/1
NR: Ballyfoy (IRE), Benbane Head (USA)
14 ran Distances: 10l, hd, ¾l
TIME 6m 3.60s (slow by 22.60s)

Grands Crus was a brilliant winner of the Rewards4Racing Cleeve Hurdle at Cheltenham in the hands of Tom Scudamore and looks a real threat to Big Buck's in March.

Fair Along
© Grossick Racing Photography

David Pipe's 2-1 favourite, who bolted up on his latest appearance in a Haydock handicap, was taking a marked step up in class but travelled powerfully and was laughing at his rivals running down the hill.

The grey held a huge advantage turning for home and after safely negotiating the final flight, he was pushed up the run-in to score by a hugely impressive 10 lengths.

A delighted Scudamore said: "He's quite good isn't he! You'd have to say he's bang there. Big Buck's is the one to beat (in the World Hurdle) but if anything is going to beat him, it's going to be us.

"He switched off lovely early but then got a bit keen halfway through the race. Every time we step him up in his work he does everything so easily."

Pipe added: "Most dreams are shattered here, but he's done that exceptionally nicely.

"I've always held him in the highest regard and he's proved it today. Today was the World Hurdle without Big Buck's and let's hope we both get there in good form. I wouldn't swap him for anything - even Big Buck's."

Elaborating on Grands Crus's character, Pipe went on: "He's a unique horse. He's very quiet in his box and has his head down on the way to the gallops but once he gets to the gallops, you can't stop him.

"Tom (Scudamore) got there too soon last time at Haydock and we just wanted to hold on to him as long as possible. Tom said I wouldn't have been able to hold on to him today!"

Position	Horse Trainer	Jockey Weight	Starting Price Beaten Distance
1	Grands Crus D Pipe	T Scudamore 11st 4lbs	2 - 1 Winner
2	Knockara Beau G A Charlton	Jan Faltejsek 11st 0lbs	33 - 1 10 lengths
3	Restless Harry R Dickin	H Oliver 11st 4lbs	7 - 1 Head
4	Mobaasher Miss V Williams	A Coleman 11st 0lbs	14 - 1 3/4 length
5	Bensalem A King	R Thornton 11st 0lbs	11 - 2 7 lengths
6	Arcalis J Howard Johnson	B Hughes 11st 0lbs	33 - 1 14 lengths
7	Cristal Bonus Evan Williams	A P McCoy 11st 8lbs	20 - 1 3 1/4 lengths
8	Kayf Aramis N A Twiston-Davies	P J Brennan 11st 0lbs	33 - 1 6 lengths
9	Fair Along P J Hobbs	R P Flint 11st 8lbs	16 - 1 2 lengths
10	Gwanako P F Nicholls	Nick Scholfield 11st 0lbs	25 - 1 11 lengths
11	Hills Of Aran W K Goldsworthy	J E Moore 11st 0lbs	100 - 1 3/4 length
12	Spirit River N J Henderson	B J Geraghty 11st 4lbs	15 - 2 15 lengths
13	Organisateur P F Nicholls	Ian Popham 11st 0lbs	6 - 1 1/2 length
PulledUp	Sweet Seville T T Clement	T J Murphy 10st 7lbs	200 - 1
NonRunner	Benbane Head M Keighley	W Marston 11st 0lbs	-
NonRunner	Ballyfoy Jamie Poulton	R Greene 11st 0lbs	-