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| Brit Insurance Novices’ Hurdle 17th March 2006 |
Cheltenham 2006 / running order & results /
THE BRIT INSURANCE NOVICES’ HURDLE
1st (3) Black Jack Ketchum
Evens Fav
2nd (12) Powerstation 9-1
3rd (17) Travino 6-1
19 ran
Also: 33-1 Back To Bid 4th
NR: Alderbrook Girl
Jonjo’s Pick-me-up
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If Jonjo O’Neil was disappointed to be absent from The Festival today, at home suffering from flu, he had the perfect pick-me-up when Black Jack Ketchum scooted home in the Brit Insurance Novices’ Hurdle.
“It’s such a shame that the person most responsible can’t be here, but this’ll cheer him up,” said Derrick Smith, husband of the owner Gay. Their children Zara, Dwayne and Paul completed the family representation as they were presented with the winner’s trophy by the Princess Royal.
Derrick Smith admitted that the family did not have too many doubts during the race. “This is what we expected and there wasn’t really wasn’t any moment when we were worried. Everything went to plan.
“To be honest I would have been cheering the winner up the hill if it hadn’t been our horse as it was such a good performance,” said Smith, adding that future plans for the horse now had to embrace Aintree and Punchestown. “We could go anywhere now;” he said.
Smith’s smile would have been broad enough without an investment on the horse, but the former trader for Ladbrokes admitted that he did have “ a small wager” on his wife’s horse.
The winning jockey on the even-money favourite, Tony McCoy, went to the head of the Racing Post Festival Jockey’s Championship, with the success being his third of The Festival this year.
McCoy recalled “The first day I won on him at Uttoxeter he won a very average race but I said to Carl Llewellyn, ‘this is a machine!’. He’s got a great attitude and never gets bothered.
“I was in front a little bit early but he travelled and jumped well and I knew if I got him over onto the running rail that would keep his mind on the job.
“I’m delighted for Jonjo because he’s not very well - although I’d say he’s feeling a little bit happier now! He’s done a brilliant job with this horse to win six out of six - it’s a great training performance.”
IRISH HORSES FILL PLACES
Powerstation and Travino filled second and third place respectively in the Brit Insurance Novices’ Hurdle behind impressive winner Black Jack Ketchum.
The second had already seen the back end of Black Jack Ketchum when chasing that horse home at The Open meeting at Cheltenham in November.
A delighted Charles Byrnes said afterwards: “He’s come here after a break and has run very well.
“He’s run right up to his November running with Black Jack Ketchum and I would be keen to take the winner on if he goes to Aintree, as I think he would get an 8lb penalty there.
“We will also think about Punchestown as well and see where we go from there.”
Back in third was Travino, who thrilled his trainer Mags Mullins.
Ms Mullins said: “I am delighted with that run.
“He’s a chaser in the making. He travelled over well and he will going home in great shape with a good run under his belt.
“It’s also good that he now has some experience of Cheltenham and hopefully we will back next year for something like the Royal & SunAlliance Chase.
“I think we came up against a real good one in Black Jack Ketchum.”
BRIT INSURANCE NOVICES’ HURDLE
Grade 2 (Class 1) 3m New Course, £75,000 guaranteed For 4yo+ Weights
4yo 10st 12lb; 5yo+ 11st 7lb Allowances fillies and mares 7lb Entries
114 pay £90 First forfeit 74 pay £180 Confirmed 44 pay £90
Penalty value 1st £42,765; 2nd £16,042.50; 3rd £8,032.50;
4th £4,005; 5th £2,010; 6th £1,005
1 BLACK JACK KETCHUM (IRE) (Gay Smith) Jonjo O'Neill 7-11-07 Tony McCoy
Evens f
2 POWERSTATION (IRE) (Fat Frog Syndicate) Charles Byrnes IRE 6-11-07
Davy Russell 9/1
3 TRAVINO (IRE) (P Kilroy) Margaret Mullins IRE 7-11-07 Barry Geraghty
6/1
4 BACK TO BID (IRE) (West Coast Pinner Syndicate) Noel Meade IRE 6-11-07
Denis O'Regan 33/1
5 SHOUETTE (IRE) (O Finetto) John Joseph Murphy IRE 6-11-00 Andrew McNamara
100/1
6 DREAM ALLIANCE (The Alliance Partnership) Philip Hobbs 5-11-07 Richard
Johnson
7 KARANJA (D Staddon) Victor Dartnall 7-11-07 Paddy Brennan
8 ZIPALONG LAD (IRE) (Walters Plant Hire Ltd) Peter Bowen 6-11-07 Tony
Dobbin
9 OSCAR PARK (IRE) (George Ward) Colin Tinkler 7-11-07 Tom Doyle
10 JEREMY CUDDLE DUCK (IRE) (Trevor Hemmings) Nigel Twiston-Davies 5-11-07
Carl Llewellyn
11 FIVE COLOURS (IRE) (Knightsbridge Bc & J Sigler) Alan King 6-11-07
Robert Thornton
12 MISTER TOP NOTCH (IRE) (Marie Cronin) Davy Fitzgerald IRE 7-11-07
Conor O'Dwer
13 ITS A DREAM (IRE) (Mrs R Murdoch & David Murdoch) Nicky Henderson
6-11-07 Mick Fitzgerald
14 SCREENPLAY (The Horse Players) Sheena West 5-11-07 Jamie Goldstein
15 IT'S THE LIMIT (USA) (Linda Goldsworthy & Susan O’Connor)
Keith Goldsworthy 7-11-07 Lee Stephens
16 ASK THE GATHERER (IRE) (Toni Tipper) Mark Pitman 8-11-07 Paul Moloney
17 TOOFARBACK (IRE) (Mrs M Cahill) Noel Meade IRE 6-11-07 Paul Carberry
P SUPER LORD (IRE) (Wally Sturt) Jim Old 8-11-07 Jason Maguire
P SMILEAFACT (Waterworth Waggott Jessop Batty Wiggam) Barbara Waring
6-11-07 Ben Hitchcott
Non-runner: Alderbrook Girl
19 ran
Time: No official time
Distances: 9, 3, 1, 1 1/4, 3, 1 1/2, 1 1/2, 2 1/2, 9, 11, 9, 3 1/2,1/2,
dist, 5, 7
Breeder: E Morrissey
Breeding: b g Oscar (IRE) - Cailin Supreme (IRE)
Tote: Win; £2.00 Places; £1.40, £3.20, £1.80
Exacta; £17.30
