racing_news/

Alarazi Heads for County After Imperial Cup Romp
12/03/11

1 Alarazi 10/1
2 Via Galilei 7/1J
3 Pateese 16/1
4 Lucaindubai 25/1
24 ran Distances: 2¾l, 2½l, 2¼l
TIME 3m 54.63s (slow by 7.63s)

Alarazi fulfilled one of Lucy Wadham's long-held ambitions by winning the Paddy Power Imperial Cup at Sandown.

The final major race before the Cheltenham Festival has frustrated the Newmarket trainer on several occasions, but she put the record straight in style as the 10-1 shot powered clear of joint-favourite Via Galilei up the hill.

Unlucky to lose at Cheltenham on his most recent start, Alarazi could well be back at the track next week, possibly for Friday's County Hurdle, as he will claim a £75,000 bonus from the sponsors if he completes a quick double.

It was a terrific result for Dominic Elsworth, who returned to riding last autumn after spending 14 harrowing months on the sidelines through serious injury, and the pair made serene progress throughout the two miles.

Less could be said for the other joint-favourite Arrayan, who never looked likely to continue the Pipe family's domination of the event and beat only one home.

Wadham said: "It's a bit of a dream - we've been trying to win the race for years and we have been second and third in it before. I've won a Grade One at Punchestown, but this is a thrill.

"He's a Group Three horse on the Flat and has a very high cruising speed, but he never settled in his novice races and these big handicaps really suit him.

"If he's sound I'd like to run at Cheltenham. He's in both the County Hurdle and the Martin Pipe and they are on the same day. Whatever one he gets into he'll go for, but I'd prefer the County."

Position	Horse Trainer	Jockey Weight	Starting Price Beaten Distance
1	Alarazi Mrs L Wadham	D Elsworth 10st 3lbs	10 - 1 Winner
2	Via Galilei G L Moore	J E Moore 10st 6lbs	7 - 1 2 3/4 lengths
3	Pateese P J Hobbs	R Johnson 10st 2lbs	16 - 1 2 1/2 lengths
4	Lucaindubai Evan Williams	Paul Moloney 10st 0lbs	25 - 1 2 1/4 lengths
5	Ultimate B Ellison	Danny Cook 10st 6lbs	25 - 1 8 lengths
6	Eradicate N J Henderson	David Bass 11st 5lbs	16 - 1 3 1/4 lengths
7	Numide B R Millman	J W Farrelly 10st 7lbs	33 - 1 1 length
8	Screaming Brave Miss S West	Ian Popham 10st 0lbs	25 - 1 1/2 length
9	Caravel J Howard Johnson	B Hughes 10st 6lbs	50 - 1 8 lengths
10	Fiulin Evan Williams	P J Brennan 10st 7lbs	8 - 1 3 1/4 lengths
11	The Betchworth Kid A King	R Thornton 11st 2lbs	12 - 1 1 1/2 length
12	Alpine Eagle Mrs J Harrington	A P McCoy 11st 4lbs	10 - 1 1 length
13	Prince Of Fire C F Swan	P Carberry 10st 3lbs	20 - 1 2 1/2 lengths
14	Arctic Wings A W Carroll	Lee Edwards 10st 2lbs	33 - 1 1 3/4 length
15	Dona A King	Peter Hatton 10st 11lbs	66 - 1 1/2 length
16	Drill Sergeant D McCain Jnr	Henry Brooke 10st 5lbs	16 - 1 1 1/4 length
17	Song of Songs Jonjo O'Neill	W Kennedy 10st 5lbs	40 - 1 6 lengths
18	Old Way Miss V Williams	Matthew Batchelor 10st 0lbs	16 - 1 1/2 length
19	Tito Bustillo P F Nicholls	R Walsh 10st 13lbs	16 - 1 18 lengths
20	Kangaroo Court Miss E C Lavelle	Jack Doyle 11st 3lbs	25 - 1 2 1/4 lengths
21	Arrayan D Pipe	B J Geraghty 10st 8lbs	7 - 1 3 1/4 lengths
22	Points of View K C Bailey	S Quinlan 10st 5lbs	100 - 1 36 lengths
Fell	Ronaldo Des Mottes D Pipe	T J Murphy 11st 12lbs	12 - 1
PulledUp	Cheshire Prince N B King	Alex Merriam 10st 4lbs	25 - 1