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Long Run takes narrow Denman victory.
Long Run got back to winning ways in the Betfair Denman Chase at Newbury this afternoon, but while his jumping was impressive, he could only manage a narrow victory over stable mate Burton Port – the latter returning for his seasonal debut after a long time off the track through injury.
The Giant Bolster set the early pace, while Sam Waley-Cohen sat in behind on Long Run, and with the 2011 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner popping his fences beautifully today, the partnership went smoothly into the lead at the second last, and victory looked a formality.
However, approaching the final fence, Burton Port on one side, and What A Friend on his inside, came to challenge the 4-7 race favourite, but once again, Long Run put in a great jump, and took 2 lengths out of his rivals, only to idle on the run-in and allow Burton Port to get within half a length of him at the line.
Despite the narrow margin of victory, Long run’s owner, Robert Waley-Cohen, was pleased, saying:
“It’s a huge relief he won, as We were giving weight to some very good horses. He did it very well today, and most pleasingly, he jumped enthusiastically and fluently, so hopefully we can say goodbye to careless jumping for the remainder of his racing career.
“Will he need to improve to beat Kauto Star? It’s hard to tell, as it’s a different trip at Cheltenham, and while he beat Kauto last year, it depends which Kauto turns up at Cheltenham next month. But you’d say based on today’s performance, Long Run and Kauto Star are the two who are going to be battling it out up the hill at Cheltenham.”
Long Run’s trainer, Nicky Henderson, was delighted with the winner, but he also had lots of praise for his runner up Burton Port, saying:
“This horse has been amazing for us all. He’s entered in the Gold Cup, and he’s working completely differently to two years ago, and he’s a stone better than he ever was before.”
Sprinter boosts his Arkle claims.
Sprinter Sacre took the step up to senior class in his stride with a very impressive win in today’s Betfair Super Saturday Chase at Newbury, and the way he bolted clear of his rivals in the former Game Spirit Chase suggests the six-year-old will take all the beating when returning to novice ranks in the Arkle Trophy at next month’s Cheltenham Festival.
Sent off as the 2-5 race favourite, the gelding proved a handful for Barry geraghty, actually pulling himself to the front at the last down the back straight, but his partner did not have to worry about his mount running out of stamina, for Sprinter Sacre kept jumping fluently and running strongly, and after popping the last, he ran out a very comfortable 6 length winner from stable mate, and original pace-setter, French Opera.
In his post race interview, Barry Geraghty said:
“I don’t think I’ve ever ridden a horse like him. He’s electric.
“He’s got scope, and he travels, and when he popped the last it was a relief he was thinking that way after such a vibrant performance. He jumps so well, and he’s simply an unbelievable horse.
“You can never take anything for granted, and Cheltenham’s a different place, but if he manages to switch off in the Arkle, I would say he would be very difficult to beat.”
Zarkandar finds extra to secure Betfair victory.
Apart from winning a pot load of money, Zarkandar greatly enhanced his Champion Hurdle chances with a determined victory in this afternoon’s valuable Betfair Hurdle at Newbury.
Approaching the second last, things did not look rosey for the 11-4 race favourite, as Ruby Walsh was hard at work, and Zarkandar was 5 lengths off leader Darlan, but then Darlan and partner Tony McCoy took a crashing fall at the penultimate flight, and Irish raider Sailors Warn and Sire De Grugy took over at the front.
Between the last two flights, Get Me Out Of Here, Raya Star, and Olofi all made ground, but at the same time, Zarkandar seemed to find his second wind, and he began to run on powerfully, and with Ruby Walsh managing to find his usual small gap at an important moment, Zarkandar ran through to take the lead after the last, with the ‘jolly’ eventually going on to secure a length and a quarter victory over Get Me Out Of Here, with Ladbroke Hurdle winner Raya Star back in third, and Sire de Grugy fourth.
Get Me Out Of Here may have been an unlucky loser, as he was badly hampered by the fall of stable mate Darlan at the second last.
Following the race, winning trainer Paul Nicholls said:
“There’s huge improvement to come from him between now and Cheltenham. I had him right enough today, but I was training him with cheltenham in mind. I was worried about his lak of experience before today, but he’s progressive, and he keeps on winning.
“He’ll need to improve to figure in the Champion Hurdle, but he worked great two days this week, and he always gallops right to the line.”
With Ruby Walsh due to ride Hurricane Fly on his title defence in the Champion Hurdle, Nicholls also indicated Daryl Jacob will almost certainly get the leg-up on Zarkandar in next month’s 2 mile Grade One.
Montbazon boosts Supreme claims.
The Alan King-trained Montbazon continued his recent good form when taking victory in the Betfair Don’t Settle For Less Novices Hurdle at Newbury this afternoon, and at the same time, he provided Robert ‘Choc’ Thornton with his first winner since returning from a lengthy injury induced period on the sidelines.
In what turned into an interesting ‘marker’ to next month’s Supreme Novices Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, several leading lights failed to shine, while Montbazon showed he is on the upgrade.
Leading fancy All The aces was off the bridle in the home straight, while Colour Squadron slithered to a halt at the penultimate flight when still going strongly. Robert Thornton kicked his mount on at that second last obstacle, and Montbazon ran on strongly to score by 7 lengths from Vulcanite, with All The Aces a further 6 lengths back in third spot.
Alan King said:
“I told Choc, no matter how well he was going, he was to press on from the second last, as we wanted to see how good he was, and to decide if he was Cheltenham material – and I certainly think he’s Cheltenham material after that.
“He’s a slow developer, and he’s needed a bit of time. He certainly learnt from his win at Plumpton the last day, and I’d say he’s certainly learnt again today.”
Scilly Isles witnesses Non Stop affair.
Having been close-up in previous top class novice chases this season, For Non Stop gained a well deserved victory at Newbury in today’s Betfair Novices chase – the Grade One contest formerly known as the Scilly Isles Novices Chase.
Sent off at 9-4 this afternoon, Nick Williams’ gelding had been placed behind Arkle Trophy fancies Al Ferof and Cue Card on his two most recent outings, so he was not winning out of turn.
Mickael Flips led his rivals a merry dance for most of today’s contest, but while he was still in the lead approaching the last fence, Noel Fehily had slowly brought For Non Stop into contention, and after outjumping the long time leader at the last, For Non Stop ran on strongly to score by 2 lengths.
With three time winner Our Mick back in third, and 5-2 race favourite Walkon in fourth, the form of today’s contest looked useful, with winning trainer Nick Williams commenting after the race:
“I don’t think he’ll get 3 miles, but I think he could make up into a very useful two and a half mile handicapper. He’s a Paddy Power Gold Cup type of horse, and we may well prepare him for that at the start of next season.
“He’s entered in the Jewson at Cheltenham, but each race takes a lot out of him, so it’smarginal if he’ll recover in time.”
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