188bet Chester Cup |
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| Heritage Handicap 15:35 £120,000 added, 4yo plus, 2m 2f 140y, Class 2  |
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| Friday 11th May 2018 | |
1 Magic Circle 8/1
2 Fun Mac 15/2
3 Who Dares Wins 9/1
4 Dubawi Fifty 6/1
16 ran NR: Saigon City Distances: 6l, 1½l, nse
Time: 4m 2.90s (slow by 1.90s)
Magic Circle wins for Ian Williams and Marwan Koukash
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Having his first race since being bought by Dr Marwan Koukash and joining the Ian Williams stable, Magic Circle produced an amazing turn of foot in the straight for jockey Fran Berry.
Magic Circle quickly pulled clear in the final furlong to give Koukash a fourth triumph in this prestigious long-distance handicap.
John Egan was the first jockey to make a move by sending Jukebox Jive to the front from his wide draw.
My Reward was always handy on the rail, with Dubawi Fifty close, while Ryan Moore brought Who Dares Wins to the leading group with more than a circuit left.
Jukebox Jive led into the straight until Magic Circle (8-1) flew by to romp home by six lengths from Fun Mac (15-2).
Who Dares Wins (9-1) was a length and a half away in third, with Dubawi Fifty (6-1) a nose away in fourth.
Koukash said: “This is the one race that I always want to win and now I’ve done it four times, which I don’t think has ever been done before.
“I’m absolutely delighted and I want to dedicate this win to my wife, who is sitting at home not well.
“This is her race.”
Berry said: “He didn’t really travel well early on but he warmed up into it and off the last bend he picked up really well.
“I came out of here last year thinking if he’d had a good draw he would have won and I was delighted when Ian Williams rang me and told me he’d bought him.
“To get booked to ride him in this race a long time ago (and win) is a great thrill and it means a lot.”
Williams said: “I’ve been telling people all week he was too short in the betting and he was only that price because it was the Marwan effect.
“Watching the race live I thought he looked a bit cold and had lost the advantage of a good draw, but he ended up getting into a good position and he finished like a storm.
“I must admit I thought his chance had gone when he was three wide. I was gobsmacked he could win from where he was.
“Marwan is easier to deal with than he used to be – he’s less proactive now – but he might not be after this!
“For him to win it four times is great – they should give him the Cup. I think we’ll have to look at the Ebor next.”
Hughie Morrison, trainer of Fun Mac, said: “He absolutely loves it here for some reason.
“He’s a fun horse to have,. These older horses are great – he has been third in a Group One, don’t forget.
“I think he’ll head for the Queen Alexandra at Royal Ascot and then the same Listed race he won in France last year.”
188bet Chester Cup Heritage Handicap
£120,000 added, 4yo plus, 2m 2f 140y, Class 2
16 ran
Going: Good
| Pos | Dr | D | Horse SP | Jockey Weight | Trainer | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | (6) | Magic Circle (IRE) 8/1 | Fran Berry 9-3 |
Ian Williams | 6 | |
| 2nd | (5) | 6 | Fun Mac (GER) 15/2 | Oisin Murphy 9-3 |
H Morrison | 7 |
| 3rd | (15) | 1½ | Who Dares Wins (IRE) 9/1 | R L Moore 9-2 |
A King | 6 |
| 4th | (10) | nse | Dubawi Fifty 6/1 | S De Sousa 8-13 |
Karen McLintock | 5 |
| 5th | (7) | 1 | Time To Study (FR) 11/2f | F Norton 9-6 |
M Johnston | 4 |
| 6th | (8) | nk | Prince Of Arran 25/1 | S Donohoe 9-9 |
C Fellowes | 5 |
| 7th | (4) | 1 | Stargazer (IRE) 8/1 | Kevin Stott 9-1 |
P A Kirby | 5 |
| 8th | (14) | ¾ | Jukebox Jive (FR) 25/1 | J F Egan 8-12 |
A J Honeyball | 4 |
| 9th | (2) | 3 | Watersmeet 12/1 | J Fanning 9-1 |
M Johnston | 7 |
| 10th | (13) | 2¼ | Nakeeta 20/1 | Callum Rodriguez (3) 9-10 |
I Jardine | 7 |
| 11th | (12) | 1¾ | Vent De Force 66/1 | Phil Dennis (3) 9-2 |
M Mullineaux | 7 |
| 12th | (9) | 10 | Silver Concorde 33/1 | G Lee 8-13 |
K Dalgleish | 10 |
| 13th | (1) | 2 | My Reward 13/2 | D Allan 9-2 |
T D Easterby | 6 |
| 14th | (3) | 8 | Grandee (IRE) 10/1 | D Tudhope 9-1 |
D O'Meara | 4 |
| 15th | (17) | 5 | Cayirli (FR) 50/1 | S W Kelly 8-13 |
S Durack | 6 |
| 16th | (11) | 15 | Shadow Sadness (GER) (ex3) 66/1 | P Hanagan 9-5 |
Oliver Greenall | 6 |
| NR | (16) | Saigon City | Ger O'Neill (5) 9-4 |
D Carroll | 8 |
