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Paddy Power Imperial Cup |
Paintball Splatters Imperial Cup Rivals
10/03/12
1 Paintball 20/1
2 Nampour 11/1
3 Sire De Grugy 10/1
4 Rowan Tiger 33/1
24 ran Distances: 4½l, 4½l, nk
TIME 3m 55.60s (slow by 10.60s)
Charlie Longsdon's most prolific season so far has now delivered a first major winner as a back-to-form Paintball ran away with the Paddy Power Imperial Cup at Sandown.
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After establishing himself among the most promising of the younger trainers, phase two of Longsdon's plan is to start achieving at the big meetings and with Paintball (20-1) now qualified for a £75,000 bonus if he makes the cut at Cheltenham next week, he has the chance of quickly ticking something else off the to-do list.
The Listed handicap hurdle had been on Paintball's agenda since he was given a breathing operation in December and after creeping along in mid-division for Noel Fehily, he hit the front at the last and steamed four and a half lengths clear of long-time leader Nampour.
"We had a nice winner in the Doncaster Sales bumper at Newbury last weekend but this betters it," said Longsdon, whose current total of 57 winners has easily exceeded his best from five previous seasons with a licence.
"We can go into Cheltenham with a smile on our faces now. We've had plenty of winners but we haven't had the big Saturday winners yet, so I'm delighted."
Paintball was too immature in last year's Fred Winter at Cheltenham and Longsdon added: "He was doing too much in the first half of that race but went and won there in April. He wasn't finishing off his races this season so we gave him the breathing operation.
"Noel said he felt a different horse to the one he rode in November. He won this off 128 and with his (5lb) penalty he'd be borderline to get into the County Hurdle. If he's OK, you'd have to go for it."
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Position |
Horse Trainer |
Jockey Weight |
Starting Price Beaten Distance |
|
1 |
Paintball C E Longsdon |
N Fehily 10st 7lbs |
20 - 1 Winner |
|
2 |
Nampour C L Tizzard |
T J O'Brien 10st 4lbs |
11 - 1 4 1/2 lengths |
|
3 |
Sire De Grugy G L Moore |
J E Moore 11st 12lbs |
10 - 1 4 1/2 lengths |
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4 |
Rowan Tiger Dr R D P Newland |
Jack Quinlan 10st 1lbs |
33 - 1 Neck |
|
5 |
Chesil Beach Boy M J Coombe |
Mrs M Roberts 10st 8lbs |
25 - 1 1 1/4 length |
|
6 |
Johns Spirit Jonjo O'Neill |
A P McCoy 10st 9lbs |
12 - 1 Neck |
|
7 |
Devil To Pay A King |
R Thornton 10st 7lbs |
10 - 1 Head |
|
8 |
Ted Spread P F Nicholls |
R Walsh 11st 0lbs |
3 - 1 2 1/4 lengths |
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9 |
First In The Queue N J Henderson |
A Tinkler 10st 8lbs |
33 - 1 2 lengths |
|
10 |
Torphichen A King |
W Hutchinson 11st 6lbs |
50 - 1 1 3/4 length |
|
11 |
Ile De Re Ian Williams |
Harry Skelton 10st 3lbs |
8 - 1 Head |
|
12 |
Pateese P J Hobbs |
R Johnson 11st 1lbs |
25 - 1 10 lengths |
|
13 |
El Dancer Mrs L Wadham |
D Elsworth 10st 2lbs |
40 - 1 2 lengths |
|
14 |
Lucaindubai Evan Williams |
Paul Moloney 10st 6lbs |
33 - 1 3 lengths |
|
15 |
Celtus N J Henderson |
B J Geraghty 10st 9lbs |
12 - 1 Short Head |
|
16 |
Pascha Bere N J Gifford |
L Treadwell 10st 8lbs |
50 - 1 8 lengths |
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17 |
Art Professor Miss V Williams |
Aidan Coleman 10st 11lbs |
20 - 1 11 lengths |
|
18 |
Grafite B G Powell |
Brendan Powell 10st 5lbs |
100 - 1 2 lengths |
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19 |
Swift Lord G L Moore |
Joshua Moore 10st 11lbs |
40 - 1 2 1/4 lengths |
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20 |
Ascendant A Reid |
Felix de Giles 10st 7lbs |
100 - 1 9 lengths |
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21 |
Master of Arts D Pipe |
T Scudamore 11st 0lbs |
8 - 1 25 lengths |
|
22 |
Ciceron Miss V Williams |
S Thomas 11st 0lbs |
25 - 1 3 lengths |
|
23 |
Monetary Fund Miss V Williams |
R T Dunne 10st 6lbs |
100 - 1 11 lengths |
|
Fell |
Zanir G McPherson |
S Twiston-Davies 10st 9lbs |
50 - 1 |
