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Fighting Fifth Hurdle 2011 |
Overturn Makes Newcastle History
26/11/11
1 Overturn 7/4
2 Binocular 5/4F
3 Celestial Halo 100/30
5 ran Distances: 4½l, 16l, 10l
TIME 4m 3.30s (slow by 22.30s)
Overturn could have another crack at the stanjames.com Champion Hurdle after making history at Newcastle.
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The seven-year-old became the first horse to win the North East track's two big races in the calendar, the Northumberland Plate on the Flat in 2010 and the stanjames.com Fighting Fifth Hurdle, when landing the latter event on Saturday.
He defeated 2010 Champion Hurdle hero Binocular for his latest success and may have just one more race before going for the Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, in which he was seventh in March.
"It was absolutely fantastic. When you think he can't do it any more, he goes and does it again. He's a wonderful horse to have," said trainer Donald McCain.
"He's as tough as nails and you wouldn't know he'd had a race this morning.
"When you're talking about Sea Pigeon and those sort of horses, it's a huge feather in his cap to win those two races.
"He won't be running for a while and we've got to decide what we do. I'd have thought we'd go back for the Champion Hurdle as he does seem to have improved again this time.
"What we do between now and then we will have to play it by ear. There will be a run somewhere before, I'd have thought, but it won't be for a while."
It was due reward for Maguire, who had partnered Peddlers Cross to a novice chase success at Bangor earlier in the afternoon before making the flight to Gosforth Park by helicopter.
He said: "The ground was dead enough for him and quite tacky. He's won despite the ground on the day.
"His jumping is so quick. Whether he's long or short he gets away from his hurdles so quickly. He was getting tired coming to the last and missed it a bit, but he was soon away from it and gone.
"Credit has to go to Donald for turning him out again so quickly. It was a big shout but the horse came out of the Ascot race absolutely buzzing. You'd struggle to ride a horse tougher than him. He's due a break now."
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Position |
Horse Trainer |
Jockey Weight |
Starting Price Beaten Distance |
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1 |
Overturn D McCain Jnr |
J M Maguire 11st 7lbs |
7 - 4 Winner |
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2 |
Binocular N J Henderson |
A P McCoy 11st 7lbs |
5 - 4 4 1/2 lengths |
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3 |
Celestial Halo P F Nicholls |
D A Jacob 11st 7lbs |
10 - 3 16 lengths |
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4 |
Stormy Weather B Ellison |
Danny Cook 11st 7lbs |
66 - 1 10 lengths |
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5 |
Kosta Brava C Grant |
A L Voy 11st 7lbs |
100 - 1 76 lengths |
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Owner JP McManus's racing manager Frank Berry said of Binocular: "He ran well. The other horse has had a run and was coming here fit. We were beaten by a better horse on the day, but we should come on a lot for the run and Kempton (Christmas Hurdle) is the plan."
McCoy, however, commented: "He travelled and jumped and I thought I had a squeak, but getting close to the third-last, I thought was hanging on to not a lot really. I was wary of Jason's horse and in the end he outbattled me and outstayed me. He's become a little bit disappointing to be honest, but we'll see what happens."
