Harry Cobden put in a great performance in the Betfair Ascot Chase as Piku Daoli completed the full yardage with a perfect jump.
The Paul Nicholls-managed nine-year-old, who finished second to Shishkin in the Grade 1 feature 12 months ago, chased down Venetia Williams’ Gold Cup hopeful Rahomme Presse from a long distance. Cobden and his mount quickly pushed the favorite out of his comfort zone with smooth jumps and quickly built a five-length lead.
By encountering all the fences with a good stride, he was constantly gaining ground, and Charlie Deutsch was always slipping past Lamb Presse, who was jumping to the left. Down the back straight, L’Homme Presse, Ahoy Senor and big outsider Sail Away closed in, but Cobden made a good save. He kicked Pick d’Aoley around the home curve and made a great leap at the end with a 13-8 chance to clinch the win by five and a half lengths over Rohm Presse.
“He’s so good at that distance that he doesn’t need to go up to three miles at this point,” Nichols said.Eventually he will understand and next year we can talk again [the King George]. It was a great ride from Harry on today’s trip. We were always trying to be positive. After all the races, I don’t know why it happened, but he seems to be improving. Today was the best I’ve ever seen and probably the best I’ve ever run.
“It was great to get such a good horse in place. Maybe the harder ground suits him and he gave 3lb to a very good horse at Banbridge at Kempton last time, but , this horse seems to be getting the best out of him and has remained strong throughout his outing. It was a great ride and that’s why Harry is fighting to become champion. Yes, he rides like a champion jockey. I think he will now go straight to Aintree.”
Southwell: 1.55 William Ewart, 2.25 Noche Negra, 2.55 Sageburg County, 3.30 Desert Halo, 4.00 Sea Gray, 4.30 Cantalupo Vera, 5.00 Darlis.
Kempton: 4.55 Aljezur, 5.30 White Mist, 6.00 Phoenix Star (nap), 6.30 Alhatel, 7.00 Media Shooter (nb), 7.30 Crimson Sand, 8.00 Kings Code, 8.30 Rubio de Oro.
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quick guide
Greg Wood’s Sunday Tips
show
Musselburgh: 1.45 Mix Jet, 2.15 With Conviction, 2.45 Barcardi, 3.20 Return Fire, 3.50 Sanosuke, 4.20 Cool Kill, 4.50 Bashful.
Southwell: 1.55 William Ewart, 2.25 Noche Negra, 2.55 Sageburg County, 3.30 Desert Halo, 4.00 Sea Gray, 4.30 Cantalupo Vera, 5.00 Darlis.
Kempton: 4.55 Aljezur, 5.30 White Mist, 6.00 Phoenix Star (nap), 6.30 Alhatel, 7.00 Media Shooter (nb), 7.30 Crimson Sand, 8.00 Kings Code, 8.30 Rubio de Oro.
Three Under Through Five put his name in the Grand National picture after an excellent performance from top weight in the Swinley Handicap Chase on the Injured Jockeys Fund Ambassador Program. Despite winning three times over fences, he had not found a score sheet since his novice days when he was deemed good enough to compete in Grade 1 company at the Cheltenham Festival. But two encouraging runs in defeat this season suggest victory is not far away, and after battling for the lead with Dan Skelton’s Champ Blue for much of the £100,000 event, he A fast-approaching rapper from Henry Daly, who showed he was coming home ahead of the class.
The 5-1 winners reduced their numbers from 33 seconds to 25-1 in Aintree’s marquee game in April, but with Nicholls ruled out of playing at Prestbury Park next month, the McNeil family This could be the next assignment for the nine-year-old in his possession.
“He earned his entry into nationals and jumped really well today,” Nichols said. “He wouldn’t want the ground to be too soft. [ground] Today was a perfect day for him.He will also feature in the Scottish National and bet365 Gold Cup [at Sandown] …Max [McNeill, owner] I’m very keen for him to run at Nationals. ”
Jockey Joe Anderson breathed a sigh of relief after Neil Mulholland’s Moto Hill continued to move up the handicap hurdle ranks in the Thoroughbred Industry Employees Award Handicap Hurdle. Anderson drew a lot of praise last month for his miraculous recovery on Plumpton’s transmission, but after dropping the whip, he beat Ben Poehling’s Bud with an 18-1 shot in the finish to stay out of trouble. I had a willing partner to save me.
