Squared Financial Christmas Hurdle |
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| Grade 1, Leopardstown 13:50 €80,000 added, 4yo plus, 3m, Class 1  |
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| Sunday 28th December 2014 | |
1 Lieutenant Colonel 4/1
2 Jetson 5/1
3 Monksland 7/1
8 ran Distances: ¾l, 5l, 1l
TIME 6m 19.50s (slow by 40.50s)
Lieutenant Colonel gets the better of Jetson in a tremendous finish
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However, it was the same result as Bryan Cooper got the Sandra Hughes-trained 4-1 shot past the post first, with Monksland running a fine race on his return to finish third, and At Fishers Cross fourth.
Cooper, on his way to a treble in the Gigginstown House Stud colours which also included the victories of Identity Thief and Lexus hero Road To Riches, had his mount handily placed in second as Jetson set the pace.
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Though Lieutenant Colonel got his head in front after the final flight, Jetson would not give in without a fight despite having little room on the far rail, and the battle went all the way to line.
MansionBet cut Lieutenant Colonel to 14-1 from 25s for the Ladbrokes World Hurdle at Cheltenham, while BetVictor go 10s from 16-1.
"He was very, very good. We thought he stayed and I'm delighted. He was brilliant," said Hughes, who took over the training licence after the death of her father Dessie last month.
"He's very economical in his jumping. He stays well and has a bit of class - that's what you need in the three-mile Grade Ones. Bryan was fantastic on him. I don't have to worry when he is riding.
"Christmas was very hard, as you can imagine, but this is fantastic for the lads in the yard and it's what we work for every day.
"We'll take him home now and have a look. I'll talk to Michael and Eddie (O'Leary). The World Hurdle at Cheltenham is his main aim this season."
Hughes's brother Richard, Britain's champion Flat jockey, said: "I'm very proud of her. She's up at 6.30 every morning. I'll stay out of the limelight as it's her day."
The Squared Financial Christmas Hurdle
3m , Race Value: €80,000, Grade 1
8 ran
Going: Yielding
| Dist | Horse / Jockey | Weight | Trainer | Age | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Lieutenant Colonel 4/1 B J Cooper |
11-10 | Ms S Hughes | 5 | |
| 2nd | ¾ | Jetson (IRE) 5/1 D N Russell |
11-10 | Mrs J Harrington | 9 |
| 3rd | 5 | Monksland (IRE) 7/1 P Carberry |
11-10 | N Meade | 7 |
| 4th | 1 | At Fishers Cross (IRE) 7/2f A P McCoy |
11-10 | Miss R Curtis | 7 |
| 5th | 1¼ | Glens Melody (IRE) 10/1 P Townend |
11-3 | W P Mullins | 6 |
| 6th | 1 | Dedigout (IRE) 25/1 B T O'Connell |
11-10 | A J Martin | 8 |
| 7th | 3¾ | Zaidpour (FR) 11/2 R Walsh |
11-10 | W P Mullins | 8 |
| 8th | 16 | Briar Hill (IRE) 6/1 D J Casey |
11-10 | W P Mullins | 6 |
