2012 bet365 Hurdle

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Tidal Bay Surges Home in bet365 Hurdle
02/11/13

1 Tidal Bay 11/4
2 Medinas 9/4JF
3 Captain Sunshine 6/1
NR: At Fishers Cross (IRE)
6 ran Distances: 1l, 4l, 11l
TIME 6m 17.40s (slow by 13.40s)

Tidal Bay showed that he still has the enthusiasm for the game as he picked up strongly to win the bet365 Hurdle under an excellent ride by Sam Twiston-Davies.

Tidal Bay
© racing-images.co.uk

The Paul Nicholls-trained 12-year-old may have his quirks but has not done a lot wrong for some time now and Twiston-Davies was able to keep him interested towards the rear of the field as Across The Bay and The Knoxs cut out the running.

The 11-4 chance took closer order on the run to the third-last, where Medinas took it up, and despite being niggled going to two out and not being entirely fluent at the last, he was able to reel in Alan King's runner on the flat to win by a cosy length.

Successful 12 months ago in the hands of Ruby Walsh, Twiston-Davies was the ninth rider to partner the Graham Wylie-owned winner and he said: "What a pleasure he is to ride, he made it very easy. He was really a steering job, I just tried to get him in amongst it and enjoying himself and that's one thing he definitely has done."

Nicholls and Twiston-Davies were completing a double initiated by Valco De Touzaine in the bet365.com Novices' Limited Handicap Chase.

At Fishers Cross is likely to head for the Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury after being forced to miss the race won by Tidal Bay. The Albert Bartlett winner arrived in West Yorkshire on Friday night, but suffered a cut to his leg, scuppering his participation in the Grade Two contest.

Trainer Rebecca Curtis is pleased to report the injury is not serious and hopes to have her stable star ready to run on Hennessy Gold Cup day on November 30.

She said: "It's nothing serious and he's going to be absolutely fine. He got to Wetherby and for some reason he spooked at his own shadow, fell down on one of his knees and got a cut. It's very superficial and he's perfectly sound. As long as he's all right when we get him home, we'll try and get him right for Newbury. That would be the next option for him."

Bet365 Hurdle (registered As The West Yorkshire Hurdle)
£36,500 added, 4yo plus, 3m 1f, Class 1
6 ran
Going: Soft