Betfred Grand National Trial |
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| Grade 3 Handicap Chase Haydock Park 14:55 £75,000 added, 5yo plus, 3m 4f, Class 1  |
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| Saturday 14th February 2015 | |
1 Lie Forrit 8/1
2 Harry The Viking 12/1
3 Monbeg Dude 13/2
NR: Ballyoliver
12 ran Distances: hd, 19l, shd
TIME 7m 41.40s (slow by 18.40s)
Lie Forrit is the winner of Betfred Grand National Trial, ridden by Peter Buchanan, trained by Lucinda Russell
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The Lucinda Russell-trained 11-year-old had fended off Harry The Viking at Kelso five weeks ago and the two veterans were again to the fore as they fought out the finish to the valuable handicap chase over three miles and five furlongs.
Lie Forrit (8-1) took up the running from Gas Line Boy after the fourth-last fence, only for Harry The Viking to loom large at the final obstacle and grab a narrow lead. Both kept on resolutely all the way to the line and Peter Buchanan managed to get Lie Forrit in front where it mattered to land the spoils by a head.
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The leading pair pulled 19 lengths clear of Monbeg Dude and Tony McCoy in third.
Russell said: "I love this race, that's the third time we have won it. Silver By Nature (dual winner) was a legend and so is this lad.
"We knew he wouldn't be able to dominate today. Peter said he had plenty in the tank coming up the straight, but it didn't look like that to me watching it.
"He lost his nerve over fences as a novice, but obviously he was a very good hurdler. That meant his chase mark was much lower and he has been better than ever this season.
"The Scottish Grand National is the plan now, he has proved he stays. We didn't even enter him for Aintree, so he will go straight there."
Sandy Thomson, trainer of the runner-up, said: "We only paid £14,000 for him and he has won that back already. We have entered for Aintree, but he probably won't get in, so Ayr would be the plan if he doesn't."
Betfred Grand National Trial
£75,000 added, 5yo plus, 3m 4f, Class 1
12 ran
Going: Soft, Good to Soft in places
| Dist | Horse SP | Jockey /Weight | Trainer | Age | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Lie Forrit (IRE) 8/1 | P Buchanan 11-6 |
Miss Lucinda V Russell | 11 | |
| 2nd | hd | Harry The Viking 12/1 | D R Fox (3) 10-5 |
A M Thomson | 10 |
| 3rd | 19 | Monbeg Dude (IRE) 13/2 | A P McCoy 11-11 |
M Scudamore | 10 |
| 4th | s.h | Gas Line Boy (IRE) 9/1 | R Johnson 11-9 |
P J Hobbs | 9 |
| 5th | 2¾ | Trustan Times (IRE) 9/1 | J Reveley 11-8 |
T D Easterby | 9 |
| 6th | 9 | Mountainous (IRE) 11/1 | J E Moore 11-4 |
R Lee | 10 |
| 7th | ¾ | Benbens (IRE) 8/1 | Ryan Hatch (5) 11-6 |
N A Twiston-Davies | 10 |
| PU | Benvolio (IRE) 7/1 | N D Fehily 11-12 |
P F Nicholls | 8 | |
| PU | Samstown 16/1 | Brian Harding 11-11 |
A C Whillans | 8 | |
| PU | Rigadin de Beauchene (FR) 16/1 | R T Dunne 11-5 |
Miss V Williams | 10 | |
| PU | Loch Ba (IRE) 33/1 | A Thornton 10-9 |
M R Channon | 9 | |
| F | Broadway Buffalo (IRE) 6/1f | C O'Farrell 11-4 |
D Pipe | 7 | |
| NR | Ballyoliver | 2nd Preference 10-12 |
Miss V Williams | 11 |
