bet365 Oaksey Chase
Grade 2, Sandown 14:25
£55,000 added,
5yo plus,
2m 6f 164y, Class 1    
Saturday 27th April 2019

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1 Black Corton 15/8F
2 Gold Present 10/1
3 San Benedeto 5/1
7 ran NR: Definitly Red Distances: 11l, 5l, 17l
Time: 5m 39.60s (slow by 13.60s)

Bryony Frost steers Black Corton to success on her first ride back since breaking her collarbone

Having had a spell on the sidelines with a broken collarbone, Bryony Frost cemented her position as champion conditional jockey with a Grade Two victory aboard a horse that has done so much to put her on the map. 

Moving on three out at the Pond fence, the 15-8 favourite was not to be denied a first victory of the season, bounding up the hill to run out an 11-length winner from Gold Present. 

Frost said: “How many fairytales am I allowed to have and how many horses allow me to have them? Out there was a lot of pressure on me and I didn’t want to do wrong by him. 

“I know we won by a long way, but I wasn’t letting him get caught today. The fire was back in his belly and I adore the little horse and the team behind him. He is one of my best horses and I love him dearly.”

A trip to Ireland could now be on the cards for the winner, with Nicholls hinting an outing in the Galway Plate could be next. 

Nicholls said: “I really fancied him today. That race was made for him. He loves to be fresh and he loves fast ground. He did that really well. 

“To me a race that would be made for him next year is the Peterborough Chase. I did suggest to the owners that as he loves this ground and to be fresh that we might make an entry for the Galway Plate.”

Trainers Quotes

There was a sad postscript to the race, however, with Josses Hill collapsing after the line.

Trainer Nicky Henderson said of his 11-year-old, who seven of his 31 races under rules, including Grade Two victories at Aintree and Huntingdon: “He’s been with us a long time and has won a lot of races over the years.

“We will miss him – a nicer horse would be hard to find.”

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bet365 Oaksey Chase
(For The Menorah Challenge Trophy)
£55,000 added, 5yo plus, 2m 6f 164y, Class 1
7 ran
Going: Good, Good to Firm in places

Pos D Horse Jockey Weight Trainer Age
1st Black Corton (FR) 15/8f Bryony Frost
11-3		 P F Nicholls 8
2nd 11 Gold Present (IRE) 10/1 J McGrath
11-4		 N J Henderson 9
3rd 5 San Benedeto (FR) 5/1 H Cobden
11-4		 P F Nicholls 8
4th 17 Cobra De Mai (FR) 9/2 Harry Skelton
11-0		 D Skelton 7
5th 8 Josses Hill (IRE) 25/1 Nico de Boinville
11-0		 N J Henderson 11
6th 24 Charbel (IRE) 4/1 David Bass
11-6		 K C Bailey 8
PU Go Conquer (IRE) 7/1 Sam Twiston-Davies
11-4		 N A Twiston-Davies 10
NR Definitly Red (IRE) Danny Cook
11-6		 B Ellison 10

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