Epic Jumps Season At William Hill Handicap Chase
Cheltenham 14:25
£60,000 guaranteed,
4yo plus,
3m 1f, Class 2   
Saturday 28th October 2023

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1 Whacker Clan 12/1
2 Twig 4/1F
3 Wayfinder 33/1
13 ran NR: Yes Indeed Distances: 3l, 2¼l, 8l
Time: 6m 34.36s (slow by 15.36s)

A big party back at the The Strand Inn over in Dunmore East seem likely when connections of Whacker Clan arrive home after the tenacious gelding turned his syndicate’s dream of having a Cheltenham winner into reality.

Owned by a syndicate made of 39 family members the Henry de Bromhead-trained seven-year-old pulled out all the stops in the three miles and one furlong contest to secure a victory that connections described as one that has made their year. 

Having been out in front from the flag fall the son of Westerner looked set to be collared by eventual runner-up Twig, who moved up onto his shoulders after the final fence having worked his way quietly into contention. 

However, it was not to be as the 12-1 chance found more when required under Darragh O’Keeffe before taking victory by three lengths to give triumphant trainer de Bromhead a 194-1 double following the success of Dancing On My Own in the opener. 

Trainers Quotes

Louise Foyle, of the Whacker’s Clan Syndicate, said: “We’ve been coming here for years and to come here and own a horse by all our family, is great. 

“Our uncle John Halley brought the horse from Tipperary in honour of our grandmother who was nicknamed Whacker. 

“There are 12 of us here today but in total there are 31 grandchildren and eight uncles and aunts. We all love racing, and we love a party. It has made our year to have a winner at Cheltenham. We could not be happier. 

“Our family business is The Stand Inn in Dunmore East. Henry is our local trainer and a good family friend so we wouldn’t give the horse to anyone but him. 

“He ran at Tramore, and won in Tramore. It was not a super hot race so we didn’t expect too much here in a Class Two. We didn’t have our hopes super high but he has given us some hope and joy egging him on. 

“One hundred per cent this is our biggest success. That is the dream to come back here for The Festival but we will wait to see what Henry says as he is the boss.”

FormRatings

Looking further along the line de Bromhead earmarked the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Handicap Chase back at the Cheltenham Festival as a possible target. 

De Bromhead added: “That was brilliant, and I’m delighted with that. He is really hardy, and it was a super ride from Darragh (O’Keeffe) and he stays really well. He gave him a brilliant ride and he was able to slow it up all the way around. He was super on him. 

“I kind of felt once we got over the last we would stay, but whether he would stay well enough who knows, but he really battled then in fairness to him. He doesn’t do much in front. 

“He is just progressing in fairness to him. He is a hardy fellow. It is great he has shown form around here and there is a chance he might get into a Kim Muir in time. He has been busy, so we will back off him fairly soon.”

FormRatings

William Hill Handicap Chase
£60,000 guaranteed, 4yo plus, 3m 1f, Class 2
13 ran
Going: Good to Soft

POS. DIST HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER JOCKEY SP
1    Whacker Clan 7 10-8 Henry De Bromhead Darragh O'Keeffe 12/1
2 3 Twig 8 11-9 Ben Pauling Beau Morgan 4/1F
3 2¼ Wayfinder 9 10-7 Rebecca Curtis Ben Jones 33/1
4 8 Amirite 7 11-11 Henry De Bromhead Rachael Blackmore 5/1
5 1 The Wolf 9 11-4 Olly Murphy Sean Bowen 25/1
PU Mister Fogpatches 9 11-8 P A Fahy Danny Mullins 40/1
PU Lord Accord 8 11-1 Neil Mulholland Richie McLernon 11/2
PU Quick Draw 7 11-3 Nicky Henderson Nico de Boinville 7/1
PU Kinondo Kwetu 7 12-0 Sam England Jonathan England 10/1
PU Undersupervision 7 11-4 Nigel Twiston-Davies Sam Twiston-Davies 8/1
PU Brief Times 7 11-6 Neil Mulholland Harry Cobden 18/1
PU Hidden Heroics 6 11-1 Dan Skelton Harry Skelton 11/1
PU Swapped 6 10-4 Charles & Adam Pogson Philip Armson 14/1
NR 11 Yes Indeed 6 10-10 Jonjo O'Neill NON RUNNER

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