By Peter Moore at Ascot Saturday 2nd November 2024
Trainer Chris Gordon’s long wait for a winner was rewarded when Our Champ held on by a nose to hold off the challenge of Break My Soul to win the Lavazza Handicap Hurdle race over 2m at Ascot.
Defying top weight, the six-year-old got home by a nose in a titanic struggle with second place Break My Soul under Nico de Boinville.
Earlier in the afternoon, de Boinville went one better by steering Bhaloo to a one length victory over Bad in the Novices Limited Handicap Chase over 2m 3f.
Making his debut over fences, the six-year-old put up an impressive display of jumping over the Ascot fences.
Trainer Nicky Henderson recently mentioned on his Stable Tour that he likes this horse a lot, and on today’s evidence, one can clearly see why.
Irish apprentice Connor Hogan rode his first ever winner at Ascot by steering Ballytechno home to win by two lengths in the opener for in form trainer James Owen.
The five-year-old backed up his previous winning run at Huntingdon with another comfortable win.
A rare runner on good ground from Venetia Williams turned out to be successful one when the experienced Martator ran on well to take the Byrne Group Handicap Steeple Chase.
The seven-year-old won on his last outing back in April at Sandown over 2m 4f, but enjoyed the drop down in trip to brush past Issar D’airy to win by one and three quarter lengths.
Willaims, was full of praise for work-rider and groom Meg Jones after the race.
Jones, who is engaged to winning jockey Charlie Deutsch, regularly partners the seven-year-old at home, despite being eight months pregnant.
“I want to keep working but it gets harder by the day,” said Jones. “I’ve not got long to go and will be watching from the other side of the fence.”
The family partnership of Nigel Twiston-Davies and Sam have started the season in great form. The duo teamed up with Clap Of Thunder for a cozy four and three quarter length win in the Class 3 novices hurdle.
Chianti Classico was last seen on a racecourse competing over the stiff Aintree fences in the Mildmay Novices Chase, finishing fourth behind Inothewayurthinkin.
Roll on 204 days, with the seven-year-old defying top weight to land the Sodexo Live Gold Cup Handicap.
It was another excellent show of jumping from a horse who seems to stay forever. Under Tom Bellamy the gelding always looked comfortable in front to go on and win very comfortably by three lengths.
After the race trainer Kim Bailey said the horse will be aimed at next year’s Grand National.