Betfair Exchange Game Spirit Chase
Grade 2 Handicap, Newbury 15:00
£70,000 guaranteed, 5yo plus,
2m 92yds, Class 1   
Saturday 11th February 2023

1 Funambule Sivola 7/1
2 Elixir De Nutz 7/1
3 Greanateen 1/2F
4 ran NR: Mortlach DDistances: 3½l, ¾l, 3½l
Time: 3m 51.72s (fast by 6.28s)

The Venetia Williams-trained Funambule Sivola was on the crest of a wave when winning this race 12 months ago and went on to finish a very creditable second to Energumene in the Champion Chase at Cheltenham.

However, in three previous runs this season he had looked a shadow of his former self and he was sent off 7-1 to return to winning ways.

Prominent throughout, Charlie Deutsch always looked happy whereas Greaneteen did not make life easy for Harry Cobden, racing keen early and making niggly errors.

With Elixir De Nutz running in snatches and Malystic’s jumping leaving him with plenty to do, Funambule Sivola ended up running out a three and a half length winner from Elixir De Nutz.

Williams said: “The only time he’s run poorly was at Kempton at Christmas.

“Cheltenham last time he had every chance turning for home and probably in a truly-run race at a good gallop, he probably doesn’t really stay two miles round Cheltenham. You’d question that with being second in the Champion Chase at the Festival. They called that heavy, but it was just wet, there wasn’t any great depth.

“I have to give Charlie a lot of credit, not just for a superb ride, but also the chat we had before the race and he said this horse loves this ground and this has got to be his race.

“The worry about this horse is that he had a tendon injury before we ever ran him, so you are trying to be a little more careful with those type of horses.

“But he is a small horse, he is a quick horse and you have a tricky dilemma – you are trying to mind him, but at the same time, it is what he enjoys.

“The Champion Chase will be his next run.”

Betfair Exchange Game Spirit Chase
 (Grade 2) £70,000 guaranteed,
5yo plus, 2m 92y, Class 1
4 ran
Going: Good, Good to Firm in places

POS. DIST HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER JOCKEY SP
1     Funambule Sivola 8 11-8 Venetia Williams Charlie Deutsch 7/1
2 3½ Elixir De Nutz 9 11-2 Joe Tizzard Brendan Powell 7/1
3 ¾ Greaneteen 9 11-8 Paul Nicholls Harry Cobden 1/2F
4 3½ Malystic 9 11-2 Peter Niven Danny McMenamin 5/1
NR 5 Mortlach 8 11-2 Fergal O'Brien NON RUNNER

Free Racing Tips

Betfair Exchange Chase – Roll of Honour

YEAR WINNER TRAINER JOCKEY AGE/WEIGHT SP RAN

2022 FUNAMBULE SIVAOLA Venetia Williams Charlie Deutsch 7 11-00 9/4 4
2021 SCEAU ROYAL Alan King Daryl Jacob 9-11-00 3/1F 6
2020 ALTIOR Nicky Henderson Nico de Boinville 10-11-06 1/3F 6
2019 Abandoned - Equine Flu scare
2018 ALTIOR NJ Henderson Nico de Boinville 08-11-06 1/3F 3
2017 ALTIOR NJ Henderson Nico de Boinville 07-11-05 30/100F 4
2016 TOP GAMBLE Kerry Lee Richard Johnson 08-11-05 10/11F 4
2015 MR MOLE Paul Nicholls A P McCoy 07-11-06 7/2 5
2014 MODULE Tom George Paddy Brennan 07-11-02 11/8F 4
2013 WISHFULL THINKING Philip Hobbs Richard Johnson 10-11-06 4/1 6
2012 SPRINTER SACRE Nicky Henderson Barry Geraghty 06-11-05 2/5F 6
2011 FRENCH OPERA Nicky Henderson Barry Geraghty 08-11-05 7/2 7
2010 MASTER MINDED Paul Nicholls Ruby Walsh 07-11-10 8/13F 5
2009 Abandoned - Snow
2008 MASTER MINDED Paul Nicholls Ruby Walsh 05-11-04 7/4 6
2007 WELL CHIEF David Pipe Timmy Murphy 08-11-00 5/2 8
*2006 DON’T BE SHY Martin Pipe Timmy Murphy 05-10-11 5/4F 4
2005 AZERTYUIOP Paul Nicholls Ruby Walsh 08-11-10 11/10F 6
2004 AZERTYUIOP Paul Nicholls Ruby Walsh 07-11-05 4/11F 6
2003 KADARANN Paul Nicholls Joe Tizzard 06-11-04 5/1 5
2002 LADY CRICKET Martin Pipe A P McCoy 08-11-01 15/8 7
2001 FUNCTION DREAM Mary Reveley Anthony Ross 09-11-03 7/4 6
2000 FLAGSHIP UBERALLES Paul Nicholls Joe Tizzard 06-11-13 1/4F 3
1999 CELIBATE Charlie Mann Mick Fitzgerald 08-11-03 7/2 6
1998 ASK TOM Tom Tate Russ Garritty 09-11-10 13/8F 4
1997 DOUBLE SYMPHONY Charlie Brooks Jamie Osborne 09-10-12 4/5F 3
1996 VIKING FLAGSHIP David Nicholson Adrian Maguire 09-11-10 5/2 6
1995 NAKIR Simon Christian Jamie Osborne 07-11-10 5/2 3
1994 VIKING FLAGSHIP David Nicholson Adrian Maguire 07-11-10 3/1 5
1993 WATERLOO BOY David Nicholson Richard Dunwoody 10-11-07 9/4 5
1992 WATERLOO BOY David Nicholson Richard Dunwoody 09-11-10 10/11F 6

*Run at Lingfield Park after Newbury was abandoned because of frost