Majordomo Hospitality Chase |
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| Grade 3, Handicap Chase, Cheltenham £45,000 added, 4yo plus, 3m 1½f |
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| Friday 13th December 2013 | |
1 Monbeg Dude 6/1
2 Theatre Guide 7/2F
3 Pigeon Island 12/1
NR: Emperor's Choice (IRE)
9 ran Distances: 1¼l, 16l, 1¾l
TIME 6m 34.05s (slow by 15.05s)
Monbeg Dude enhanced his Grand National claims with victory in the Majordomo Hospitality Handicap Chase at Cheltenham.
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Brothers Tom and Michael Scudamore could be harbouring hopes of following in their grandfather's footsteps as they teamed up to take the Grade 3 event with the minimum of fuss.
Knockara Beau and Aimigayle ensured that there was to be no hanging about in the contest and having sent off at a breakneck pace, it was little surprise that the race was going to be fought out by horses that been kept away from the early gallop.
Henessy third, Theatre Guide, seemed somewhat lit up by the pace and having made significant headway to challenge for the lead some way out, Joe Tizzard eventually allowed him his head with two to jump, but the eye was drawn to Tom Scuadmore who was motionless on the 6/1 chance.
Apparently cruising with plenty underneath him, Scudamore produced the eight-year-old at the last and though he may have idled slightly on the run-in; he ran out a very comprehensive winner.
Winning trainer Michael Scudamore said: "We were delighted with the way he ran last time and looking at today's race we thought we had place chances. Tom's given him a great ride and he's done it well. His jumping's got better and better and slicker and slicker and that's helped. This has got to give him a chance [of running in the Crabbie's Grand National at Aintree] though there's plenty of time between now and then."
Joe Tizzard rode the runner-up and he said: "I was really pleased with the horse, it's the best he's ever travelled and jumped. Fair play to the winner, it was a good performance and third was a long way back. He's put two good performances together back-to-back now and we've been patient with him, he's ready to race now."
The evergreen Pigeon Island, who won at the 2010 Festival, ran up the hill to finish a never nearer third.
Monbeg Dude was cut into 25/1 for the Crabbie's Grand National by SkyBet following the victory.
Majordomo Hospitality Handicap Chase
£45,000 added, 4yo plus, 3m 1f 110y, Class 1
9 ran
Going: Good
| Pos |
Horse Trainer |
Jockey Weight |
SP Beaten Distance |
| 1 |
Monbeg Dude M Scudamore |
T Scudamore 11st 0lbs |
6 - 1 Winner |
| 2 |
Theatre Guide C L Tizzard |
J Tizzard 11st 9lbs |
7 - 2 1 1/4 length |
| 3 |
Pigeon Island N A Twiston-Davies |
Sam Twiston-Davies 10st 10lbs |
12 - 1 16 lengths |
| 4 |
Prince Of Pirates N J Henderson |
A P McCoy 11st 0lbs |
9 - 2 1 3/4 length |
| 5 |
Knockara Beau G A Charlton |
Jan Faltejsek 11st 10lbs |
9 - 1 1 1/4 length |
| 6 |
Duke Of Lucca P J Hobbs |
R Johnson 10st 11lbs |
6 - 1 1 1/4 length |
| 7 |
Quentin Collonges H D Daly |
Jake Greenall 11st 4lbs |
15 - 2 7 lengths |
| 8 |
Aimigayle Miss S Smith |
C Bolger 10st 0lbs |
8 - 1 1/2 length |
| 9 |
Burton Port Jonjo O'Neill |
R P McLernon 11st 12lbs |
25 - 1 22 lengths |
| NR |
Emperor's Choice Miss V Williams |
Aidan Coleman 10st 8lbs |
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