Betfair Hurdle
Grade 3 Handicap, Newbury 15:35
£155,000 added,
4yo plus,
2m 69y, Class 1  
Saturday 8th February 2020

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1 Pic D'Orhy 33/1
2 Ciel De Neige 13/2F
3 Remiluc 66/1
4 Sir Valentine 16/1
24 ran Distances: ¾l, shd, shd
Time: 3m 48.00s (standard time)

The drama began down at the start when the starter deemed the jockeys were not listening to his instructions and demanded a standing start.

That caused problem for ante-post fancy and front-runner Not So Sleepy, who completely missed the break and set off in last position.

Then on landing over the first flight another of the leading lights, Nicky Henderson’s Never Adapt, was quickly pulled up by Barry Geraghty.

Once the race eventually settled down Willie Mullins’ well-backed Ciel De Neige was up there forcing the pace, along with Highly Prized, who dropped away before the last.

The sole Irish raider was still in front, but 66-1 chance Remiluc, Sir Valentine and Pic D’Orhy (33-1) were mounting challenges.

It was Paul Nicholls’ Pic D’Orhy who scrambled home in front for Harry Cobden by three-quarters of a length from Ciel De Neige and Remiluc, with Sir Valentine fourth in a blanket finish.

There were a number of fallers at the final flight, but happily all horses and riders were reported to have emerged unscathed.

Nicholls said: “I didn’t really expect that and you couldn’t, could you? He did come with a reputation, but it hasn’t happened up until now because of circumstance.

“I’ve always been training him with next season in mind really. I wanted to go chasing with him this season, but Johnny (de la Hey, owner) said to stay over hurdles and that was the right choice.

“That was really good and he is the future. He did travel well and stayed on really strongly. I rang Johnny up after his last run (sixth at Ascot) and said, ‘don’t be disappointed with that, as if that was October it would be like his first run of the season and we would be thrilled’.

“I’ve drilled him since that last run and I’ve not missed a day’s work with him and he was ready. It is the first time it has all gone to plan. It was a good performance off that big weight.

“He is nice young horse who will be an exciting chaser.”

He added: “Harry (Cobden) said that (about running him in the Champion Hurdle). He is going to be in the mid-150s now and that is not far off being Champion Hurdle quality. I’ll have to see what Johnny says – it is a lot of money to supplement, but he has won a few quid.

“This horse might have the boot to travel really well in it.”

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Betfair Hurdle (Handicap) (Grade 3)
£155,000 added, 4yo plus, 2m 69y, Class 1
24 ran
Going: Good, Good to Soft in places

POS DIST HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER JOCKEY SP
1       Pic D'Orhy 5 11-5 Paul Nicholls Harry Cobden 33/1
2 ¾ Ciel De Neige 5 10-8 W P Mullins Aidan Coleman 13/2F
3 shd Remiluc 11 10-12 Chris Gordon Tom Cannon 66/1
4 shd Sir Valentine 7 10-3 Nigel Twiston-Davies Jamie Bargary 16/1
5 ½ Tamaroc Du Mathan 5 10-3 Paul Nicholls James Bowen 50/1
6 ½ Zanza 6 10-11 Philip Hobbs Sean Houlihan 25/1
7 4 Oakley 7 10-12 Philip Hobbs Tom O'Brien 20/1
8 hd Stolen Silver 5 11-4 5ex Nigel Twiston-Davies Sam Twiston-Davies 16/1
9 ¾ Nelson River 5 11-1 Tony Carroll Harry Bannister 50/1
10 2½ Quoi De Neuf 6 10-6 Evan Williams Brian Hughes 14/1
11 shd Ecco 5 10-11 Paul Nicholls Bryony Frost 16/1
12 1¾ Gumball 6 11-12 Philip Hobbs Ben Jones 33/1
13 ¾ Flegmatik 5 10-3 Dan Skelton Bridget Andrews
14 1¾ Neff 5 10-3 Gary Moore Joshua Moore 33/1
15 hd Not So Sleepy 8 11-3 Hughie Morrison Jonathan Burke 33/1
16 ½ Whoshotthesheriff 6 10-8 Philip Kirby Sean Quinlan 16/1
17 ½ Thebannerkingrebel 7 11-0 Jamie Snowden Gavin Sheehan 7/1
18 2½ Highly Prized 7 10-6 Emma Lavelle Jonjo O'Neill 9/1
19 1½ Magic Dancer 8 10-3 Kerry Lee Richard Patrick 50/1
BD Harambe 7 11-3 Alan King Tom Bellamy 25/1
BD Mack The Man 6 10-3 Evan Williams Adam Wedge 15/2
F   Lightly Squeeze 6 10-10 Harry Fry Sean Bowen 33/1
PU Mill Green 8 11-1 Nicky Henderson Nico de Boinville 25/1
PU Never Adapt 5 10-13 Nicky Henderson Barry Geraghty 8/1

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The Betfair Hurdle – Roll of Honour

YEAR WINNER TRAINER JOCKEY AGE/WEIGHT SP RAN

2019 AL DANCER Nigel Twiston-Davies Sam Twiston-Davies 06-11-08 5/2F 14
2018 KALASHNIKOV Miss Amy Murphy Jack Quinlan 05-11-05 8/1C 24
2017 BALLYANDY Nigel Twiston-Davies Sam Twiston-Davies 06-11-01 3/1F 16
2016 AGRAPART Nick Williams Lizzie Kelly 05-10-05 16/1 22
2015 VIOLET DANCER Gary Moore Joshua Moore 05-10-09 20/1 23
2014 SPLASH OF GINGE Nigel Twiston-Davies Ryan Hatch 06-10-03 33/1 20
2013 MY TENT OR YOURS Nicky Henderson A P McCoy 06-11-02 5/1F 21
2012 ZARKANDAR Paul Nicholls Ruby Walsh 05-11-01 11/4F 20
2011 RECESSION PROOF John Quinn Dougie Costello 05-10-08 12/1 15
2010 GET ME OUT OF HERE Jonjo O'Neill A P McCoy 06-10-06 6/1 23
2009 Abandoned - Snow
2008 WINGMAN Gary Moore Jamie Moore 06-10-00 14/1 24
2007 HEATHCOTE Gary Moore Jamie Moore 05-10-06 50/1 20
2006 Abandoned - Frost
2005 ESSEX Michael O'Brien IRE Barry Geraghty 05-11-06 4/1F 25
2004 GEOS Nicky Henderson Marcus Foley 09-10-09 16/1 25
2003 SPIRIT LEADER Jessica Harrington IRE Norman Williamson 07-10-00 14/1 27
2002 COPELAND Martin Pipe A P McCoy 07-11-07 13/2 16
2001 LANDING LIGHT Nicky Henderson Mick Fitzgerald 06-10-02 4/1F 20
2000 GEOS Nicky Henderson Mick Fitzgerald 05-11-03 15/2 17
1999 DECOUPAGE Charles Egerton Jimmy McCarthy 07-11-00 6/1 18
1998 SHARPICAL Nicky Henderson Mick Fitzgerald 06-11-01 10/1 14
1997 MAKE A STAND Martin Pipe Chris Maude 06-11-07 6/1 18
1996 SQUIRE SILK Andy Turnell Paul Carberry 07-10-12 13/2 18
1995 MYSILV Charles Egerton Jamie Osborne 05-10-08 9/4F 8
1994 LARGE ACTION Oliver Sherwood Jamie Osborne 06-10-08 9/2 11
1993 KING CREDO Steve Woodman Adrian Maguire 08-10-00 10/1 16
1992 RODEO STAR Nigel Tinkler Graham McCourt 06-10-10 15/2 15
1991 Abandoned - Frost
1990 DEEP SENSATION Josh Gifford Richard Rowe 05-11-03 7/1 17
1989 GREY SALUTE John Jenkins Richard Dunwoody 06-11-05 8/1 10
1988 JAMESMEAD David Elsworth Brendan Powell 07-10-00 11/1 19
1987 NEBLIN Toby Balding Stan Moore 08-10-00 10/1 21
1986 Abandoned – Snow
1985 Abandoned – Snow
1984 RA NOVA Nan Kennedy Paddy Farrell 05-10-06 16/1 26
1983 Abandoned - Snow & Frost
1982 DONEGAL PRINCE Paul Kelleway John Francome 06-10-08 13/1 27
1981 Abandoned – Waterlogged
1980 BOOTLACES David Barons Paul Leach 06-10-09 20/1 21
1979 WITHIN THE LAW Peter Easterby Alan Brown 05-11-04 25/1 28
1978 Abandoned – Frost
1977 TRUE LAD Bill Swainson Tommy Stack 07-10-04 14/1 27
1976 IRISH FASHION Michael Cunningham IRE Ron Barry 05-10-04 16/1 29
1975 TAMMUZ Fulke Walwyn Bill Smith 07-10-13 18/1 28
1974 Abandoned – Waterlogged
1973 INDIANAPOLIS John Sutcliffe snr Jeff King 06-10-06 15/2 26
1972 GOOD REVIEW Jim Dreaper IRE Val O'Brien 06-10-09 8/1 26
1971 CALA MESQUIDA John Sutcliffe snr John Cook 07-10-09 33/1 23
1970 Abandoned - Snow & Frost
1969 Abandoned - Frost
1968 PERSIAN WAR Colin Davies Jimmy Uttley 05-11-13 9/2F 33
1967 HILL HOUSE Ryan Price Josh Gifford 07-10-10 9/1 28
1966 LE VERMONTOIS Ryan Price Josh Gifford 05-11-03 15/2 28
1965 ELAN John Sutcliffe jnr David Nicholson 06-10-07 9/2F 21
1964 ROSYTH Ryan Price Josh Gifford 06-10-02 10/1 24
1963 ROSYTH Ryan Price Josh Gifford 05-10-00 20/1 41

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