Sodexo Gold Cup |
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| Grade 3, Ascot 15:25 £100,000 added, 4yo plus, 3m, Class 1  |
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| Saturday 31st October 2015 | |
1 Pendra 11/2F
2 Double Ross 16/1
3 Fox Appeal 9/1
15 ran Distances: 3¼l, 3l, ¾l
TIME 5m 51.70s (slow by 8.70s)
Pendra finally lives up to the hype, hitting the jackpot at Ascot
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Having been beaten when well fancied at the last three Cheltenham Festivals, the seven-year-old at long last came good on the big occasion with victory in the Grade Three affair.
Given a patient ride by Barry Geraghty, the well-supported 11-2 favourite took control of matters between the final two fences before staying on in spirited fashion to defeat the fast-finishing Double Ross by three and a quarter lengths.
Victory put the seal on a fantastic day for Longsdon, who struck with Masterplan in the opening race at Ascot and also won the West Yorkshire Hurdle at Wetherby with Kilcooley.
The trainer said: "Finally he has won one. He has been short priced in handicaps at the last three Cheltenham Festivals and it is nice to win a big prize as it was long overdue.
"I said to Barry beforehand that it would be good if he could win a big handicap at some stage.
"He was wrong last year and he had a wind operation but he is fresh and well and put it all in."
Sodexo Gold Cup Handicap Chase
£100,000 added, 4yo plus, 3m, Class 1
15 ran
Going: Good, Good to Soft in places
| Pos | Dist | Horse SP | Jockey Weight | Trainer | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Pendra (IRE) 11/2f | B J Geraghty 10-7 |
C E Longsdon | 7 | |
| 2nd | 3¼ | Double Ross (IRE) 16/1 | Ryan Hatch (3) 11-3 |
N A Twiston-Davies | 9 |
| 3rd | 3 | Fox Appeal (IRE) 9/1 | G Sheehan 11-5 |
Miss E C Lavelle | 8 |
| 4th | ¾ | What A Warrior (IRE) 13/2 | Harry Skelton 10-7 |
D Skelton | 8 |
| 5th | 3¾ | Cantlow (IRE) 20/1 | Paul Moloney 10-6 |
P R Webber | 10 |
| 6th | nse | Ned Stark (IRE) 7/1 | D F O'Regan 10-8 |
A King | 7 |
| 7th | 1¾ | Virak (FR) 9/1 | Nick Scholfield 11-7 |
P F Nicholls | 6 |
| 8th | 5 | Lost Legend (IRE) 20/1 | A Tinkler 10-12 |
Jonjo O'Neill | 8 |
| 9th | 3¼ | Houblon Des Obeaux (FR) 10/1 | Aidan Coleman 11-12 |
Miss V Williams | 8 |
| PU | Le Reve (IRE) 8/1 | D A Jacob 11-2 |
Mrs L Wadham | 7 | |
| PU | Royal Player 25/1 | T J O'Brien 11-0 |
P J Hobbs | 6 | |
| PU | Present View 11/1 | Brendan Powell 10-12 |
Jamie Snowden | 7 | |
| PU | Bennys Mist (IRE) 50/1 | L Treadwell 10-10 |
Miss V Williams | 9 | |
| PU | Leo Luna 22/1 | Joshua Moore 10-6 |
G L Moore | 6 | |
| PU | No Buts 16/1 | Tom Cannon 10-4 |
D G Bridgwater | 7 |
