Lavazza Jolie Silver Cup Handicap Chase |
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| Listed Handicap Chase, Ascot 15:00 £100,000 added, 4yo plus, 3m, Class 1  |
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| Saturday 17th December 2016 | |
1 Regal Encore 20/1
2 Minella Daddy 9/2F
3 Tenor Nivernais 33/1
14 ran Distances: 1¾l, ½l, nk
TIME 6m 4.00s (slow by 21.00s)
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Anthony Honeyball's talented but inconsistent Regal Encore had failed to complete on his last two starts (and had pulled up on five of his last six) but connections had stressed beforehand that there were excuses for both runs.
Those who listened were rewarded at odds of 20/1 as Barry Geraghty's mount flew home in the straight to collar Minella Dandy in the final half a furlong.
The runner-up had struck for home after mastering Tenor Nivernais in the straight and appeared as though he may have enough in hand with Another Hero struggling to close the gap.
However, he was hampered by a loose horse at the final fence as a slow jump cost him crucial momentum and he had no answer to the late surge of Regal Encore, who swept past to win by a length and a half.
Geraghty and winning owner JP McManus were completing a big-race double following the victory of Unowhatimeanharry in the JLT Long Walk Hurdle.
"He hasn't been straightforward," said Geraghty.
"He's been hard to settle and his jumping has been hit and miss. He's let us down a few days, but he got it all together this time."
Honeyball said: "I'm just pleased to get a big win under his belt.
"Since he was second in the Champion Bumper (2013), he's done plenty of good things and been thereabouts in some Graded events, but we feel like this is the one we've been waiting to get with him.
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"At Cheltenham he nearly got brought down twice, so he got a bit of bad luck there.
"Before that he was second at Punchestown and the latest 'pulled-ups' weren't really a true reflection of him."
There was a sad postscript as Eduard, trained by Nicky Richards, fractured his right hind leg during the race and had to be put down.
Silver Cup Handicap Chase (Listed)
£100,000 added, 4yo plus, 2m 7f 180y, Class 1
14 ran
Going: Good to Soft
| Pos | D | Horse SP | Jockey Weight | Trainer | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Regal Encore (IRE) 20/1 | B J Geraghty 11-1 |
A J Honeyball | 8 | |
| 2nd | 1¾ | Minella Daddy (IRE) 9/2f | Sean Bowen 10-13 |
P Bowen | 6 |
| 3rd | ½ | Tenor Nivernais (FR) 33/1 | L Treadwell 11-7 |
Miss V Williams | 9 |
| 4th | nk | Another Hero (IRE) 14/1 | R P McLernon 10-5 |
Jonjo O'Neill | 7 |
| 5th | 7 | Le Mercurey (FR) 15/2 | Sam Twiston-Davies 11-9 |
P F Nicholls | 6 |
| 6th | ½ | Irish Saint (FR) 7/1 | Nick Scholfield 11-7 |
P F Nicholls | 7 |
| 7th | 10 | Fletchers Flyer (IRE) 15/2 | N D Fehily 11-3 |
H Fry | 8 |
| 8th | 19 | Annacotty (IRE) 40/1 | Ian Popham 11-12 |
A King | 8 |
| 9th | 8 | The Druids Nephew (IRE) 12/1 | T Scudamore 11-5 |
N P Mulholland | 9 |
| 10th | nk | Triolo D'Alene (FR) 16/1 | J McGrath 11-5 |
N J Henderson | 9 |
| PU | Holywell (IRE) 33/1 | Killian Moore (3) 11-11 |
Jonjo O'Neill | 9 | |
| PU | Eduard (IRE) 11/2 | Wayne Hutchinson 11-8 |
N G Richards | 8 | |
| PU | Fourth Act (IRE) 12/1 | T J O'Brien 10-8 |
C L Tizzard | 7 | |
| F | Go Conquer (IRE) 7/1 | R Johnson 10-7 |
Jonjo O'Neill | 7 |
