Gemirande dug deep to offer Venetia Williams and Charlie Deutsch one other huge Saturday success within the Nyetimber December Gold Cup at Cheltenham.
The eight-year-old was distinguished all through the £125,000 contest, however regarded set to face a significant menace from Madara when that rival got here by to problem over the ultimate two fences.
Nevertheless, Gemirande (11/2) jumped each of these obstacles effectively and located simply that little bit extra up the hill to prevail by a size.
Final yr’s winner Fugitif put up a stable defence of his title however needed to accept third place this time, an additional seven-and-a-half lengths again.
Deutsch stated: “I’ve grown to like this horse, he is fairly a personality and his leaping was electrical.
“I am happy for him to get his head in entrance, he loves racing and is basically enthusiastic. His leaping is so fast, he’s fairly a keen-going type, so I used to be aware we would have liked a breather on the best way spherical.
“I felt I had a bit of bit there [at the last], it was simply whether or not Madara would have a bit extra, however he is actually recreation and he tries.
“He’s definitely got better with age, he was struggling to finish his races earlier in his career. It’s nice that he’s getting there now. Venetia is a magician with what she does with these horses.”
Latest huge wins for the trainer-jockey mixture have included Royale Pagaille and Djelo, and Deutsch added: “I’m really enjoying it, I’m confident and I know how Venetia works now. I have so much confidence in her and her horses.”
On her sizzling streak, Williams stated: “It’s been amazing. You always look at the big races that are on offer and see if you’ve got something for them.
“I needed to run this horse within the Paddy Energy Gold Cup, however he was out of the weights, so we went to Ascot as an alternative. The best way he quickened from the final to the road at Ascot, I have not seen that for a very long time. I used to be so impressed and I assumed we have undoubtedly received to return right here for this.
“Charlie wasn’t quite sure how he was going to do the weight (10st 2lb) and I didn’t know what he was going to amputate! Yesterday, I think he was 10st 7lb and he said ‘I’ll do the weight’. He could have gone for a couple of easier weight options at Doncaster, but he was very keen to come and ride him.
“He is a giant man, he is received huge shoulders and he hasn’t achieved 10st 2lb for some time. I feel he is an impressive jockey.
“Last season wasn’t really a full season at all for the horse. He got a really nasty overreach which took ages to get on top of, so last season didn’t really count.
“We do not do long-term targets, this was a adequate one.”
Williams could be double-handed when seeking another major triumph in the Ladbrokes King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day.
She added: “Hopefully we’ll run each L’Homme Presse and Royale Pagaille within the King George. L’Homme Presse labored this morning and that is the plan in the intervening time.”
Bowen brothers share spoils in Triumph Trial thriller
There was a thrilling finish to the JCB Triumph Trial Juvenile Hurdle at Cheltenham as Bowen brothers James and Sean shared the spoils via a dead-heat between Quantock Hills and Teriferma.
James looked to have claimed a decisive advantage when the Warren Greatrex-trained Quantock Hills (11/2) produced a fine leap at the final flight to forge clear.
However, Sean conjured up a late charge from 18/1 shot Teriferma to draw level right on the line, giving Jack Jones a second straight success in this race following An Bradan Feasa’s victory last year.
James and Sean Bowen following their dead-heat
Irish raider Complete Look paid the value for a few pricey leaping errors within the latter phases and was a neck again in third because the 11/8 favorite.
Greatrex stated: “It’s a bit of a family affair for the Bowens, and our fellow is a lovely horse. He never ran on the Flat and he’s just inexperienced really. He travelled through the race very well and I think he’s got a very bright future.
“He simply wandered when he hit the entrance – it is a huge place whenever you come right here for the primary time.
“I thought we’d won initially and then I thought we were beat. He was on his own so he had nothing to run with, but he’s a good horse, I’d say.
“He may very well be a horse for the Boodles (Juvenile Handicap Hurdle). I feel he’ll be higher on softer floor, he regarded the winner from a good distance out and we have simply received there a bit too quickly actually, I suppose.”
He added: “That is two runners and two winners at Cheltenham this season for us now – I may not come again! Clearly, what occurred to Abuffalosoldier on the final assembly was very unhappy, however he gained and confirmed everybody what he may do this day. It is a part of the job sadly.”
Jones stated: “Very happy, it’s a bit of a strange feeling having a dead-heat, but I suppose it’s a winner, isn’t it?
“It was very pleasing. I feel if he’d completed second, if he’d dead-heated or if he’d gained outright, he was in all probability the one to take out of the race from the place we have been and the way we hit the road.
“It’s funny because we actually underbid on Quantock Hills in France, which is very strange, and for the two Bowen boys to be dead-heating as well.
“We have had our horse two or three months now and he is been very simple. We gained this race final yr with An Bradan Feasa, who can be a bit extra of a thinker I suppose, whereas this lad is a gent.
“Sean said he jumped a bit big and we were slightly on the back foot. He missed three out and was a bit further back than ideal due to his jumping, but the way he’s finished, you’d rather be coming up that hill than slowing up and I’m delighted.
“I assumed we have been massively overpriced. He’d gained two hurdle races and completed second with a giant weight, so I do not know the way we have gone off at 18/1.
“I thought this lad was a better horse than the lad last year, his schooling had been good and there was no reason why he wasn’t going to be a good horse.
“The Boodles can be a logical step. When Willie Mullins unleashes his juveniles, we’ll in all probability go away that race [Triumph Hurdle] to them.”
Haiti Couleurs seems good for Rebecca Curtis
Rebecca Curtis seems to have unearthed a horse who may ship her again to the large time after Haiti Couleurs put up a wonderful show at Cheltenham.
The Welsh coach is not any stranger to success within the Cotswolds, having loved Pageant glory with the likes of Teaforthree, At Fishers Cross and Stayers’ Hurdle hero Lisnagar Oscar.
Nevertheless, it has been some time between drinks for Curtis, with the latter’s shock win four-and-a-half years in the past her most up-to-date at graded degree.
A twin winner over hurdles on the finish of final season, Haiti Couleurs completed second on his chasing debut at Chepstow in October earlier than going one higher in some model at Aintree final month.
He was a 4/1 shot to comply with up within the Josh Wyke Birthday Novices’ Restricted Handicap Chase and jumped precisely all through underneath title-chasing Sean Bowen earlier than digging deep within the dwelling straight to prevail by two and three-quarter lengths.
The staying-on Transmission pipped the 11/8 favorite Peaky Boy to second.
“He just keeps improving this horse. He obviously had a nice novice season [over hurdles] last season, but he struck into himself quite badly the year before and he actually he missed a full year, so he’s still slightly backward for his age,” stated Curtis.
“With racing he keeps improving and I don’t know where he’ll end up really. I really fancied him for the National Hunt Chase because he stays all day, but Sean said he’s improved that much since his Aintree win you wouldn’t know if he’ll end up in the Brown Advisory.
“It is good to be again right here. We’re getting these sorts of horses once more which can hopefully hold us on the map anyway.”
Glory day for Lucy Wadham
Game On For Glory toughed out victory in the Quintessentially Mares’ Handicap Chase at Cheltenham.
Lucy Wadham’s charge had twice run well in defeat at the track, finishing second in a bumper in 2021 and in the Grade Two Mares’ Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase Final last spring.
Recreation On For Glory
Having blown away any cobwebs when ending fourth on her reappearance at Market Rasen in October, the eight-year-old was despatched off at 22/1 underneath champion jockey Harry Cobden and dug deep on the run-in to attain by a size and three-quarters from So Stated I.
Wadham stated: “She ran very well here in the spring and had a great start to the season when running very well at Market Rasen.
“We have been a bit held up since, so we simply waited for this race and he or she did it properly.
“She’s tough and knows how to win. This was the target, she might come back here in April, but I don’t know what we’ll do in between yet.
“We had a garbage day yesterday – we had 4 runners and so they all completed practically final. Right now we have had a winner at Doncaster and now a winner right here – you’ll be able to’t make it up, are you able to? It is a humorous outdated recreation.”
