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Opus Energy Novices' Hurdle 2012 |
Dodging Bullets On Fire in Open Novices Hurdle
16/11/12
1 Dodging Bullets 5/4F
2 River Maigue 4/1
3 Court Minstrel 6/1
8 ran Distances: 1½l, 1½l, ½l
TIME 4m 27.00s (slow by 36.00s)
5-4 favourite Dodging Bullets made virtually every yard in the Grade Two Opus Energy Novices' Hurdle to give Paul Nicholls and Ruby Walsh a double on the first day of the Open Meeting at Cheltenham.
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Walsh was positive from the off aboard the Frankie Dettori-bred winner, but he looked to have a battle on his hands as there were five in with a chance at the last.
However, a sound leap from Dodging Bullets saw him land in front and he stayed on up the hill, finding the necessary extra to repel River Maigue by a length and a half. Court Minstrel was the same distance back in third.
Nicholls said: "He wants a fast-run race, he stays and this will have done him the world of good. He showed last year in the Triumph Hurdle that he's a classy horse, but he was just struggling with his breathing.
"We might go for the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton on Boxing Day and then come back for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle here - it's a long way off to start planning yet."
Opus Energy Novices' Hurdle (Grade 2)
£25,000 added, 4yo plus, 2m 110y, Class 1
8 ran
Going: Good to soft (good in places)
| Position |
Horse Trainer |
Jockey Weight |
Starting Price Beaten Distance |
| 1 |
Dodging Bullets P F Nicholls |
R Walsh 11st 7lbs |
5 - 4 Winner |
| 2 |
River Maigue N J Henderson |
B J Geraghty 11st 0lbs |
4 - 1 1 1/2 length |
| 3 |
Court Minstrel Evan Williams |
Paul Moloney 11st 7lbs |
6 - 1 1 1/2 length |
| 4 |
Duke Of Navan N G Richards |
D N Russell 11st 4lbs |
25 - 1 1/2 length |
| 5 |
Run With The Wind M Hourigan |
T J Murphy 11st 7lbs |
12 - 1 1 3/4 length |
| 6 |
Magic Spear C A Murphy |
R M Power 11st 7lbs |
20 - 1 1/2 length |
| 7 |
Tominator Jonjo O'Neill |
A P McCoy 11st 4lbs |
4 - 1 10 lengths |
| 8 |
Ted Dolly E U Hales |
R Thornton 11st 7lbs |
100 - 1 21 lengths |
Opus Energy supply more than 140,000 business locations across the UK with power. Customers include: CfBT Education Trust, Stagecoach, Pizza Hut and Virgin Media.
