Betfair Cash Out 'Fixed Brush' Handicap Hurdle
Grade 3, £80,000 added, 4yo plus, 3m, Class 1
Saturday 23rd November 2013

1 Gevrey Chambertin 6/1
2 Utopie Des Bordes 14/1
3 Lie Forrit 10/1
4 Alfie Sherrin 20/1
17 ran Distances: ½l, 1½l, 2¾l
TIME 5m 42.50s (slow by 9.50s)

Gevrey Chambertin emulated his David Pipe-trained brother Grands Crus by winning the Betfair Cash Out 'Fixed Brush' Handicap Hurdle at Haydock.

Gevrey Chambertin
© Grossick Racing Photography

Tom Scudamore, who also won this for the Nicholashayne handler on Dynaste two years ago, took the bull by the horns on the five-year-old. A decent novice last season without being in the upper echelons, the 6-1 chance had the field strung out some way from home.

Two Rockers, Gullinbursti and Lie Forrit all loomed up looking a threat at one stage, before Gevrey Chambertin pulled out more to win by half a length from the staying-on Utopie Des Bordes. Lie Forrit was third, with Alfie Sherrin fourth.

Scudamore said: "The cheekpieces definitely sharpened him up, it was an armchair ride all the way really."

Pipe added: "I wasn't as confident as Tom. At home he appeared a little bit slower this year so we just put the cheekpieces on him to help him concentrate, and the horse has given his all.

"Turning into the home straight he was in front and then he kicked again. It's a long way up this home straight, with a furlong and a half run-in. Tom has given him a fantastic ride.

"He's nothing like Grands Crus (the 2010 wnner). I think it's unfair to make comparisons and I thought his handicap mark was high enough. I was proved wrong.

"The plan is probably to go chasing, eventually. I'll sit down and have a chat with the owners. He jumps his hurdles really well and jumped those fixed brush hurdles really well. He'll be a lovely chaser.

"We've not tried him over fences yet. You don't know until you try, but I'd be surprised if he doesn't take to them."

Betfair Cash Out 'Fixed Brush' Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3)
£80,000 added, 4yo plus, 3m, Class 1
17 ran
Going: Soft