Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

Sporting ExcitementSporting Excitement

Horse Racing

Joy for Midnight Shadow in Dipper Chase as hot favourite Champ crashes down at second last

, Joy for Midnight Shadow in Dipper Chase as hot favourite Champ crashes down at second last

JUMPING is the name of the game and unfortunately for Champ it cost him dearly in the Dipper Chase.

He came down at the second last when in control and left the Grade 2 to Sue Smith’s Midnight Shadow.

Champ had been the 3-1 favourite for the RSA had been unbeaten over fences

Sent off the 4-9 jolly, Champ was asked to cut out the running by jockey Barry Geraghty and the pair set a decent tempo.

A couple of sketchy jumps aside, the antepost RSA favourite was always in command and looked to have the race at his mercy.

As they turned in Champ hit 1.04 in the run before he took a tumble two from home.

Danny Cook was left to steer Midnight Shadow home having lobbed round in second most of the way.

Cook said: “It looked like Barry had the race sewn up on Champ, but my lad was brilliant today.

“He relaxed really nicely, jumped from fence to fence, but just idled a bit after the last.

“We probably would have been a good second, but he was pulling himself up on the run-in.”

Nicky Henderson was unsure if he’d get another run into his crack novice before the Festival.

The bookies reacted by pushing him out to 4-1 for the three mile RSA. He can be backed at 12-1 for the Marsh Novices’ Chase.

, Joy for Midnight Shadow in Dipper Chase as hot favourite Champ crashes down at second last

Henderson said: “Barry said he was having a lovely time and then he just took his eye of the ball. You come off that bend and there are a lot of things to look at and he had been in front long enough.

“We felt we needed to make the race a bit more honest for him today as he does stay and you didn’t want a sprint. He was enjoying himself and he jumped beautifully. I thought he jumped the best he has done this season.

“He had it totally under control and he said he was full of petrol. They catch them at the end and take them to the stable, but I’ve been told he is fine.

Advertisement. Scroll to continue reading.

“We’ve got to re-school him, but I was not planning on running him again after today (until Cheltenham) and just stepping him up to three miles, which is what he wants. Whether we go and run him over three miles, I don’t know (before Cheltenham), we will just have to see as there are places we can go.

“(The) Reynoldstown (at Ascot) and things like that could come into the equation. You hardly want to come into it (RSA) on the back of that, but there are a million ways of skinning the cat and we will just have to decide how to skin this one.

“It’s just annoying more than anything else, but as long as he is all right, which we think he is, and Barry is all right we will have to put it down to the new year!”

Geraghty added: “He was brilliant through the race, but running to the second last he was looking around a bit and met it wrong.

“It was a novicey fall. He seemed to get up OK, so hopefully he’s fine.”

 

Advertisement. Scroll to continue reading.
Advertisement
Advertisement

Latest

Premier League

Lukaku's Transfer U-turn Belgian striker Romelu Lukaku is reportedly considering a dramatic transfer U-turn that could see him leave Chelsea permanently after his loan...

Golf

Glam to Natural Paige Spiranac surprises her fans with a more natural appearance, ditching the glam for a new look that has everyone talking....

Premier League

Xabi Alonso Prefers to Stay at Bayer Leverkusen Liverpool is in search of a new manager following Jurgen Klopp's departure, but reports suggest that...

Premier League

Major Rule Change The Premier League has implemented a significant rule change regarding ball boys and girls after a recent incident involving Coventry manager...

Premier League

Green Light for Ambitious Project Birmingham City FC is on the verge of finalizing a £50 million deal to acquire an abandoned motor circuit...

Premier League

Dynamic Trio of Best Pals Erling Haaland is known for his pranks, and according to Sander Berge, the close friendship between Haaland, Martin Odegaard,...

Advertisement
Advertisement

Facebook

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement