Trustatrader Peterborough Chase |
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| Grade 2, Cheltenham 13:50 £80,000 guaranteed, 4yo plus, 2m 3f 168y, Class 1  |
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| Sunday 8th December 2024 |
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1 Djelo 2/1
2 Protektorat 6/4F
3 Ginny's Destiny
100/30
5 ran Distances: 6l, 7½l, 66l
Time: 5m 7.26s (slow by 20.26s)
A comprehensive display from Djelo in the @TrustATrader Peterborough Chase, with @charliedeutsch2 checking over his shoulders motionless in the saddle, winning in style for trainer @VenetiaWRacing 🚀 pic.twitter.com/QSu4aXegFs
— Huntingdon Racecourse (@Huntingdon_Race) December 8, 2024
Djelo transformed what was expected to be a competitive race into a commanding victory. Trained by Venetia Williams and ridden by Charlie Deutsch, the six-year-old gelding was a 2-1 chance, following a narrow defeat by JPR One in the Haldon Gold Cup at Exeter last month.
Djelo tracked Sarah Humphrey’s Nickle Back for much of the two-and-a-half-mile contest before being allowed to take the lead down the back straight. From there, the result was never in doubt. With Nickle Back fading quickly and Minella Drama failing to make an impact, Protektorat and Ginny’s Destiny tried to catch Djelo from the home turn. However, Djelo remained untroubled and cruised to victory, finishing six lengths ahead of Protektorat, with Ginny’s Destiny a further seven and a half lengths behind in third.
Trainer Venetia Williams was thrilled with the performance, stating, “It was a wonderful performance. Going to the last down the back, I looked behind and thought ‘they’re all in trouble now’. He’s been progressive ever since his attention was turned to fences and let’s hope that’s continuing.”
Looking ahead, Williams remained uncertain about future plans, saying, “I don’t know, ask me tomorrow! I’d like to think we’ve got two great flagbearers in the three-mile division with Royale Pagaille and L’Homme Presse, and it’s great that this horse is stepping up to somewhere near that sort of level now. He’s been running in handicaps up until now, but he’s going to be going up quite a bit now.”
Following this impressive win, Coral has rated Djelo at 12-1 for the Ryanair Chase at the Cheltenham Festival in March, highlighting his potential for future success.
Trustatrader Peterborough Chase
£75,000 guaranteed, 4yo plus, 2m 3f 189y, Class 1
5 ran
Going: Soft
POS. DIST HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER JOCKEY SP
1 Djelo 6 11-7 Venetia Williams Charlie Deutsch 2/1
2 6 Protektorat 9 11-10 Dan Skelton Harry Skelton 6/4F
3 7½ Ginny's Destiny 8 11-4 Paul Nicholls Harry Cobden 100/30
4 66 Nickle Back 8 11-7 Sarah Humphrey James Best 14/1
PU Minella Drama 9 11-10 Donald McCain Brian Hughes 33/1
