Betfair Ascot Chase |
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| Grade 1, Ascot £150,000 added, 5yo plus, 2m 5f 110y, Class 1 |
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| Saturday 15th February 2014 | |
1 Captain Chris 8/11F
2 Cloudy Too 7/1
3 Hunt Ball 20/1
8 ran Distances: 19l, 12l, 4l
TIME 5m 28.80s (slow by 20.80s)
The Philip Hobbs-trained Captain Chris, second to Cue Card in this race 12 months ago, when he made a late mistake, made amends by storming home first in the Betfair Ascot Chase.
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Leading on the turn for home with two to jump, the 8-11 favourite bounded clear in the hands of Richard Johnson.
The Philip Hobbs-trained 10-year-old negotiated the last two obstacles in exemplary fashion as he galloped way ahead of Cloudy Too. Hunt Ball was third.
Jockey Richard Johnson gave the horse a perfect ride, and commented afterwards: "He really was very, very good out there - it shows what he can do on his day.
"Now we can look forward to Punchestown - that's a race we will have to consider for him now."
Hobbs admitted before the start that things looked ideal for his charge saying that one of the big keys to him was that he loved to go right-handed.
"The result was never in doubt and on the Ascot form he looks a good bet for the Irish race," he said.
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Nicky Henderson is awaiting the handicapper's reaction to Hunt Ball's British reappearance as he considers Cheltenham Festival options for his new recruit.
After an astounding rise through the ranks in two seasons for Keiran Burke, the gelding was purchased by an American syndicate but was a disaster in four outings Stateside last summer.
Henderson gave him a Crabbie's Grand National entry and said from Kempton on Sunday: "He ran a great race and hopefully he'll get into one of the handicaps.
"It's now six races since he last won at Taunton and he's got to be coming back to a handicap mark.
"Otherwise you've got to run him in the Ryanair Chase, which he can't possibly win."
Betfair Ascot Chase (Grade 1)
£150,000 added, 5yo plus, 2m 5f 110y, Class 1
8 ran
Going: Soft (Heavy in places)
| Horse Trainer |
Jockey Weight |
SP Distance |
|
| 1 |
Captain Chris P J Hobbs |
R Johnson 11st 7lbs |
8 - 11 Winner |
| 2 |
Cloudy Too Mrs S J Smith |
Jonathan England 11st 7lbs |
7 - 1 19 lengths |
| 3 |
Hunt Ball N J Henderson |
A Tinkler 11st 7lbs |
20 - 1 12 lengths |
| 4 |
Medermit A King |
R Thornton 11st 7lbs |
12 - 1 4 lengths |
| 5 |
Kauto Stone P F Nicholls |
P Carberry 11st 7lbs |
16 - 1 1 1/2 length |
| 6 |
Riverside Theatre N J Henderson |
B J Geraghty 11st 7lbs |
11 - 2 19 lengths |
| PU |
Rolling Aces P F Nicholls |
N Fehily 11st 7lbs |
15 - 2 |
| PU |
Sunny Ledgend Andrew Martin |
Mr J Martin 11st 7lbs |
100 - 1 |
