Towton Novices’ Chase |
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| Grade 2 Handicap, Wetherby 14:45 £32,000 added, 5yo plus, 3m 45y, Class 1  |
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| Saturday 6th February 2016 | |
1 Blaklion 4/1
2 Definitly Red 3/1
3 Native River 11/4
6 ran Distances: 8l, 10l
TIME 7m 19.50s (slow by 82.50s)
Blaklion roars to Towton Chase glory at Wetherby
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Hot on the heels of the Grade One win of Bristol De Mai at Sandown, Blaklion strengthened the Gloucestershire handler's Cheltenham Festival team with a gritty display.
In stamina-sapping conditions some classy animals such as Bitofapuzzle and Native River were beaten before the top of the straight as Definitly Red pushed on.
Ryan Hatch never let him get too far in front but it looked as if the 7lb more he was carrying may prove vital.
Class won through, though, as Blaklion (4-1) jumped nimbly in the straight to pull eight lengths clear of Brian Ellison's charge.
"Ryan rode a lovely race on him," said Twiston-Davies' assistant Carl Llewellyn.
"That took some getting today in those conditions and he's not very big, but he jumped really well.
"He's clever, since he fell at Cheltenham he's barely touched a twig.
"The thinking before today was the RSA Chase and I don't see why that should change now.
"We've beaten the second as easy as Willie's (Mullins) horse (Black Hercules) but I don't know how literally you can take the form on that ground today."
Totepool Towton Novices' Chase(Grade 2)
£32,000 added, 5yo plus, 3m 45y, Class 1
6 ran
Going: Heavy
| Pos | D | Horse SP | Jockey Weight | Trainer | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Blaklion 4/1 | Ryan Hatch 11-7 |
N A Twiston-Davies | 7 | |
| 2nd | 8 | Definitly Red (IRE) 3/1 | Danny Cook 11-0 |
B Ellison | 7 |
| 3rd | 10 | Native River (IRE) 11/4 | Brendan Powell 11-7 |
C L Tizzard | 6 |
| PU | Kingswell Theatre 28/1 | T Scudamore 11-4 |
M Scudamore | 7 | |
| PU | Bitofapuzzle 9/4f | N D Fehily 10-11 |
H Fry | 8 | |
| PU | Run Ructions Run (IRE) 16/1 | B Hughes 10-7 |
T D Easterby | 7 |
