2012 Old Roan Chase

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Conquisto Conquers Old Roan Rivals
26/10/13

1 Conquisto 17/2
2 Astracad 4/1
3 Viva Colonia 16/1
11 ran Distances: 1¼l, 1l, 5l
TIME 4m 50.30s (slow by 2.30s)

Tony McCoy guided Conquisto to a clear-cut victory in the Betfred Monet's Garden Old Roan Chase at Aintree on an afternoon when the champion rode three winners.

Conquisto
© Racehorse Photos

Making his first start since early May and racing off a career-high mark of 150, the Steve Gollings-trained Conquisto was a 17-2 chance for this prestigious Grade Two prize and travelled sweetly throughout.

Astracad put up a bold effort from the front, with Mr Moonshine also bang there from the start, but Conquisto stalked that pair into the straight and responded when asked to come up early at the final fence, producing a giant leap to land running and take the lead. He galloped all the way to the line to score by a length and a quarter from Astracad.

Gollings said: "He's not very big, but he's 100 per cent heart. If he was a hand bigger he'd be an absolute world-beater. He's had a few maintenance issues in previous seasons and because of that probably hasn't achieved as much as he should have done, but last season went well and we've had no problems at all in the run-up to this race.

"He's just a fabulous horse to train. AP said to me he didn't know what he was made of, I told him 'probably the same stuff as you'!" Asked about a possible tilt at next month's BetVictor Gold Cup at Cheltenham, Gollings said: "That could be a possibility, we'll see. This race had been the target and we'll enjoy the day."

McCoy's treble moved him to within 13 winners of the magical 4,000 mark over jumps.

Betfred Monet's Garden Old Roan Chase (a Limited Handicap)
£75,000 added, 4yo plus, 2m 4f, Class 1
11 ran
Going: Good (Good to Soft in places)