Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Chase |
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| Cheltenham 15:00 £35,000 guaranteed, 5yo plus, 3m 6f 37y, Class 2  |
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1 Diesel D'Allier 6/1
2 Potters Corner
14/1
3 Plan Of Attack 9/2
15 ran NR: Talkischeap Distances: nse, 3½l, 4¾l
Time: 8m 24.62s (slow by 20.62s)
Diesel D'Allier denies Potters Corner in a photo finish in the @glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Chase under @harry_bann1310 for Richard Bandey @CheltenhamRaces pic.twitter.com/zjMgOj0cWb https://t.co/NwxIACGJ4V via @RacingBetter
— RacingBetter (@RacingBetter) December 10, 2021
The Richard Bandey-trained grey was a previous winner around the Prestbury Park cross country course – striking gold in 2019 when trained in France by Emmanuel Clayeux.
Bought by Bandey earlier this year, Diesel D'Allier finished a promising third at Cheltenham’s November meeting behind the reopposing pair of Back On The Lash and Singing Banjo.
A 6-1 shot to go two places better in the hands of Harry Bannister, Diesel D’Allier was delivered to challenge Christian Williams’ Potters Corner after the final obstacle and set up a grandstand finish.
No quarter was given by either horse or jockey and they flashed by the post almost as one – but the judge confirmed Bandey’s charge had triumphed by the narrowest of margins.
“It’s just immense emotion – great for the team and the lovely owners,” said Bandey.
“It’s amazing for a small team like us. I’m over the moon.
“I bought the horse during the summer from Emmanuel Clayeux and I bought him under duress from the wife, who wasn’t too keen for me to purchase him.
“I had faith I was going to sell him, but about a month before he ran here in November I still hadn’t sold the horse, so there was a little bit of pressure from home.
“I put a syndicate together of local people and friends who we’ve known for a number of years. They all came on board for a fun horse to take us to Cheltenham.
“He’s done what I said he’d do and what Emmanuel proved he could do. It’s just wonderful.”
Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Chase
£35,000 guaranteed, 5yo plus, 3m 6f 37y, Class 2
15 ran
Going: Good to Soft, Good in places
1 Diesel D'Allier 8 10-2 Richard J Bandey Harry Bannister 6/1
2 nse Potters Corner 11 10-0 Christian Williams Jack Tudor 14/1
3 3½ Plan Of Attack 8 10-3 Henry De Bromhead Darragh O'Keeffe 9/2
4 4¾ Mortal 9 10-4 Gordon Elliott Jody McGarvey 20/1
5 9 Back On The Lash 7 10-6 Martin Keighley Sean Bowen 100/30F
6 1¼ Fox Pro 6 10-0 Mrs Jane Williams Chester Williams 22/1
7 2 Singing Banjo 11 10-2 P J Rothwell Mr B J Walsh 12/1
8 3½ Ballyboker Bridge 14 10-0 Peter Maher Sean O'Keeffe 50/1
9 2¼ Balko Des Flos 10 11-12 Henry De Bromhead Rachael Blackmore 12/1
10 8½ Super Citizen 7 10-0 Eugene M O'Sullivan Charlie Deutsch 40/1
11 8½ Call It Magic 11 10-0 Ross O'Sullivan Adam Wedge 80/1
12 31 Midnight Maestro 9 10-5 E Bolger Mark Walsh 6/1
13 27 Mr Diablo 12 10-0 J P Dempsey L P Dempsey 100/1
UR Alpha Des Obeaux 11 10-7 Gordon Elliott Mr Ben Bromley 12/1
UR Blast Of Koeman 10 10-0 Peter Maher J J Slevin 40/1
NR 2 Talkischeap 9 10-12 Martin Keighley NON RUNNER
