Matchbook Betting Exchange Handicap Chase |
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| Cheltenham 14:00 £60,000 added, 4yo plus, 3m 1f, Class 2  |
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| Saturday 26th October 2019 | |
1 The Conditional 14/1
2
West Approach 4/1F
3
Cogry 6/1
15 ran NR: Cobra De Mai, Rock The Kasbah, Royal Vacation,
Shantou Village, The Young Master
Distances: 1¾l, 2l, 2l Time: 7m 2.70s (slow by 57.70s)
A gutsy performance from The Conditional sees him plug on gamely up the hill to take the "Matchbook Betting Exchange" Handicap Chase with @TomCannonJockey coaxing him home for David Bridgwater 💪 pic.twitter.com/Nvsq38usRp
— CheltenhamRacecourse (@CheltenhamRaces) October 26, 2019
The Conditional revelled in the testing conditions to record a first victory over fences on his eighth chase appearance. The seven-year-old, who joined local trainer David Bridgwater from the Irish stables of Martin Hassett over the summer, took up the running jumping the final fence before being driven out by Tom Cannon to beat 4/1 favourite West Approach by a length and three-quarters. Cogry, who made much of the running, took third, a further two lengths in arrears.
David Bridgwater commented: "I think that when The Conditional gets to the front, he idles a bit. I was quite surprised because he ran really well at Worcester and I thought he was pretty straight, but he has come on so much for that race. He must have been only half-fit that day.
"It's a great result and great for the owner, Mr Cave. He has been in the game all his life and bless him. A good friend of mine found The Conditional for us in Ireland and it's quite rare that he is still a novice because he has been running in some great races.
"He is entitled to win a race like this because he has been knocking on the door in Ireland and I think that he will hopefully improve with a bit of age. He could end up being a Welsh National-type of horse."
Tom Cannon said: "It's tough going. We are splashing through a lot of water and it's obviously on the heavy side. I got a great ride from The Conditional and he handled the conditions. He jumped well and it was one of those races when everything went right from start to finish.
"David Bridgwater told me not to be in front too soon and I was probably in front a touch longer than I would have liked but I am just delighted to win. It's not often that I get a chance on a day like this and it is great."
Matchbook Betting Exchange Handicap Chase
£60,000 added, 4yo plus, 3m 1f, Class 2
15 ran
Going: Soft, Heavy in places
1 The Conditional 7 10-4 David Bridgwater Tom Cannon 14/1
2 1¾ West Approach 9 10-13 Colin Tizzard Robbie Power 4/1F
3 2 Cogry 10 10-12 Nigel Twiston-Davies Sam Twiston-Davies 6/1
4 2 Onefortheroadtom 6 10-0 Harry Fry Miss A B O'Connor 8/1
5 9 Red Infantry 9 10-11 Ian Williams Tom O'Brien 25/1
6 1¼ Mindsmadeup 8 10-1 Matthew J Smith Adam Short 14/1
7 3½ Back To The Thatch 7 10-5 Henry Daly Richard Patrick 8/1
8 - Rolling Dylan 8 11-1 Philip Hobbs Micheal Nolan 16/1
PU - Crosspark 9 11-5 Caroline Bailey Jamie Moore 16/1
PU - Get On The Yager 9 10-5 Dan Skelton Mr T Durrell 20/1
PU - Na Trachtalai Abu 9 10-11 J Motherway Jonathan Burke 33/1
PU - Captain Chaos 8 10-6 Dan Skelton Bridget Andrews 14/1
PU - Minella Rocco 11-6 Jonjo O'Neill Barry Geraghty 22/1
PU - Bob Mahler 7 10-12 Warren Greatrex Daryl Jacob 16/1
PU - Rocky's Treasure 8 11-6 Kim Bailey David Bass 11/1
NR 1 - Cobra De Mai 7 11-12 Dan Skelton NON RUNNER
NR 2 - Rock The Kasbah 9 11-9 Philip Hobbs NON RUNNER
NR 6 - Royal Vacation 9 11-5 Colin Tizzard NON RUNNER
NR 7 - The Young Master 10 11-3 Neil Mulholland NON RUNNER
NR 9 - Shantou Village 9 11-1 Neil Mulholland NON RUNNER
