racing_news/

First Avenue Snatches Imperial Cup Glory
09/03/13

1 First Avenue 20/1
2 Tanerko Emery 11/1
3 Kazlian 10/1
4 Barizan 20/1
NR: Changing The Guard, Claret Cloak (IRE), First In The Queue (IRE), Paintball (IRE), Solaras Exhibition (IRE)
19 ran Distances: 3½l, 3¾l, 6l
TIME 4m 15.33s (slow by 30.33s)

First Avenue came from the clouds to cause a 20-1 surprise in the Paddy Power Imperial Cup at Sandown to give Laura Mongan the biggest winner of her career.

First Avenue
© Racehorse Photos

With more in front of him than behind him as he turned into the straight some 15 lengths behind the runaway leader Kazlian, his young jockey Nathan Adams refused to panic.

Kazlian was still some five lengths clear when he crashed through the second-last, losing his momentum and letting his challengers close the gap, and First Avenue hit top gear to power away and win by three and and a half lengths from the staying-on Tanerko Emery. Kazlian finished third.

Mongan said: "I was screaming pretty loudly coming to the last and just hoped he jumped it safe and sound. To win this is surreal. You've got to have a bit of confidence, but we'd have been over the moon if he'd been placed. To win is incredible.

"This is my biggest win by some distance. Nathan gave him a smashing ride and knows him inside out."

Paddy Power Imperial Cup Handicap Hurdle (Listed)
£70,000 added, 4yo plus, 2m 110y, Class 1
19 ran
Going: Soft, heavy in places.