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Balthazar King Retains Trophy
19/10/13

1 Balthazar King 7/2F
2 Tour Des Champs 11/2
3 Tullamore Dew 20/1
4 Mister Grez 13/2
NR: Ballyoliver
16 ran Distances: 7l, ¾l, hd
TIME 6m 11.59s (slow by 8.59s)

A deluge could not put the dampeners on the celebrations in the Philip Hobbs camp after Balthazar King made most of the running to land the Showcase Trophy Chase at Cheltenham for the third successive year.

Balthazar King
© Racehorse Photos

Sent off the 7-2 favourite following his cross-country victory at Craon last month, the nine-year-old galloped his 15 rivals into the ground to win the £23,750 first prize and take his winning tally at Cheltenham to five, earning his ninth chase victory in the process.

The crowd favourite stole a march coming down the hill under Richard Johnson and drew further clear the further they went. He had seven lengths to spare over Tour Des Champs, who battled back to take second near the line.

The Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase at the Open meeting is next on the agenda for Balthazar King.

Hobbs said: "We don't really care what the handicapper does now, we'll come back for the cross country race here at the next meeting. To win this race three years in a row is phenomenal. He's just a very good horse.

"He didn't jump well in the Grand National or the bet365 Gold Cup, but hopefully he can win the cross country, a race in which he was second last year."

Showcase Trophy (a Handicap Chase)
£50,000 added, 4yo plus, 3m 110y, Class 2
16 ran
Going: Good