Majordomo Hospitality Chase
Grade 3, Handicap Chase, Cheltenham
£45,000 added,
4yo plus,
3m 1½f
Friday 13th December 2013

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1 Monbeg Dude 6/1
2 Theatre Guide 7/2F
3 Pigeon Island 12/1
NR: Emperor's Choice (IRE)
9 ran Distances: 1¼l, 16l, 1¾l
TIME 6m 34.05s (slow by 15.05s)

Monbeg Dude enhanced his Grand National claims with victory in the Majordomo Hospitality Handicap Chase at Cheltenham.

Monbeg Dude
© Racehorse Photos

Monbeg Dude

Brothers Tom and Michael Scudamore could be harbouring hopes of following in their grandfather's footsteps as they teamed up to take the Grade 3 event with the minimum of fuss.

Knockara Beau and Aimigayle ensured that there was to be no hanging about in the contest and having sent off at a breakneck pace, it was little surprise that the race was going to be fought out by horses that been kept away from the early gallop.

Henessy third, Theatre Guide, seemed somewhat lit up by the pace and having made significant headway to challenge for the lead some way out, Joe Tizzard eventually allowed him his head with two to jump, but the eye was drawn to Tom Scuadmore who was motionless on the 6/1 chance.

Apparently cruising with plenty underneath him, Scudamore produced the eight-year-old at the last and though he may have idled slightly on the run-in; he ran out a very comprehensive winner.

Winning trainer Michael Scudamore said: "We were delighted with the way he ran last time and looking at today's race we thought we had place chances. Tom's given him a great ride and he's done it well. His jumping's got better and better and slicker and slicker and that's helped. This has got to give him a chance [of running in the Crabbie's Grand National at Aintree] though there's plenty of time between now and then."

Joe Tizzard rode the runner-up and he said: "I was really pleased with the horse, it's the best he's ever travelled and jumped. Fair play to the winner, it was a good performance and third was a long way back. He's put two good performances together back-to-back now and we've been patient with him, he's ready to race now."

The evergreen Pigeon Island, who won at the 2010 Festival, ran up the hill to finish a never nearer third.

Monbeg Dude was cut into 25/1 for the Crabbie's Grand National by SkyBet following the victory.

Majordomo Hospitality Handicap Chase
£45,000 added, 4yo plus, 3m 1f 110y, Class 1
9 ran
Going: Good

Pos
Horse
Trainer
Jockey
Weight
SP
Beaten Distance
1
Monbeg Dude
M Scudamore
T Scudamore
11st 0lbs
6 - 1
Winner
2
Theatre Guide
C L Tizzard
J Tizzard
11st 9lbs
7 - 2
1 1/4 length
3
Pigeon Island
N A Twiston-Davies
Sam Twiston-Davies
10st 10lbs
12 - 1
16 lengths
4
Prince Of Pirates
N J Henderson
A P McCoy
11st 0lbs
9 - 2
1 3/4 length
5
Knockara Beau
G A Charlton
Jan Faltejsek
11st 10lbs
9 - 1
1 1/4 length
6
Duke Of Lucca
P J Hobbs
R Johnson
10st 11lbs
6 - 1
1 1/4 length
7
Quentin Collonges
H D Daly
Jake Greenall
11st 4lbs
15 - 2
7 lengths
8
Aimigayle
Miss S Smith
C Bolger
10st 0lbs
8 - 1
1/2 length
9
Burton Port
Jonjo O'Neill
R P McLernon
11st 12lbs
25 - 1
22 lengths
NR
Emperor's Choice
Miss V Williams
Aidan Coleman
10st 8lbs
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