2012 result

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Quentin Battles to Take bet365 Gold Cup
27/04/13

1 Quentin Collonges 14/1
2 Same Difference 15/2
3 Away We Go 6/1F
4 Muirhead 16/1
NR: Dover's Hill
19 ran Distances: 2l, 13l, 1l
TIME 7m 23.10s (slow by 8.10s)

Classy stayer Quentin Collonges helped trainer Henry Daly and jockey Andrew Tinkler end the jumps season on a high by edging a terrific duel with Same Difference for the bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown.

Quentin Collonges
© Racehorse Photos

The grey, who won the Grimthorpe at Doncaster on his most recent start, depends upon better ground and had been redirected from last weekend's Scottish Grand National when the rain poured down at Ayr.

Easing the memory for Daly of Briery Fox's narrow defeat by Hennessy in this race four years earlier, Quentin Collonges (14-1) and Same Difference had the famous old handicap to themselves over the demanding uphill finish and they were eventually separated by just two lengths.

With Galaxy Rock and Becauseicouldntsee combining for a fierce pace for much of the way, quite a few were closing in with a challenge around the Pond Fence three from home, including 6-1 favourite Away We Go, but he clouted the second-last and could only manage a distant third-placed position.

Daly said: "We were going to go to Scotland but the ground was so heavy, so we came here instead. He's not big enough to jump the fences when it's soft, so he's had a light campaign.

"Briery Fox led over the last here and got beat, so it's a very nice end of season race to win. I'd imagine he'll go for good staying chases next year, but he's so small that the National fences would seem very big for him. It's something we'll have to think about."

Tinkler added: "It's great that on a day Nicky Henderson is crowned champion trainer, another of the trainers I ride for has won a big race.

"He stays so well, but it's his attitude that helps him to stay, he's so tough."

Nigel Twiston-Davies said of the runner-up: "I thought we were going to win, but we were giving 9lb away to an improving horse."

Bet365 Gold Cup Chase (Handicap) (Grade 3)
£150,000 added, 5yo plus, 3m 5f 110y, Class 1
19 ran
Going: Good