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racing news |
Unscripted Start to Season for RSA Winner Bostons Angel
07/11/11
Bostons Angel, a live outsider for the Totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup at the festival meeting in March, had a far from ideal return to action this term when unseating his rider at the fifth fence from home in the Grade 1 JNwine.com Chase at Down Royal, a contest eventually won by the tremendously progressive Quito de La Roque, writes Elliot Slater.
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The Jessica Harrington-trained seven-year-old entered the Gold Cup picture when completing a hat-trick of wins last spring with success in the Grade 1 RSA Chase at the Cheltenham Festival last March, recovering after being headed at the third from home to beat fellow Irish raider Jessies Dream in one of the very best finishes of the outstanding meeting. Those following the Cheltenham betting odds will have been impressed.
Hopes had been high that the gelded son of Winged Love might start off this term where he ended last, and Bostons Angel was sent off a solid 4/1 chance to confirm form with 11/4 favourite Quito de La Roque who he had narrowly beaten at Leopardstown in December to land the Grade 1 Fort Leney Novices’ Chase.
Things didn’t go quite as well as had been hoped however with Robbie Power’s mount jumping well in the main and still being in contention in fourth place when he blundered badly and unseated his rider at the fifth from home. His departure was too far out to say whether or not he might have won, but connections will be disappointed to begin this crucial first season out of novice ranks with a failure to finish the race. Now a general 25/1 chance for the Gold Cup, Bostons Angel has work to do to recover the faith of his supporters, whilst Quito De La Roque, has been cut to as short as 10/1 in places for the blue riband at Prestbury Park in just over four months time.
