Penzance Triumphs at Cheltenham
Penzance pipped Faasel in a thrilling finish to the JCB Triumph Hurdle on the final day of the Cheltenham Festival this afternoon.
Taking the lead on the run to the last flight, Penzance (9-1) just held off his persistent challenger by a head.
Favourite Akilak made strong late progress to take third, eight lengths further away.
Admiral took the 23-strong field along at a merry clip and led until after the third-last hurdle, where the race began in earnest.
Cerium went on, but Robert Thornton was always travelling well on Penzance and soon took the lead on the Alan King-trained gelding.
Tony Dobbin was pulling double on Faasel and made his bid at the last, but Penzance proved up to the task on the climb to the line to give owners the Elite Racing Club a major triumph.
King, who backed the horse at 40-1 earlier in the season, said: “I thought the post would never come! It was the longest furlong of my life. The other just kept closing and closing.
“He travelled well through the race, though, and battled up the hill, and any doubts about his stamina proved unfounded. And he was always in a good position.
“This was his biggest test by far and we had a fair bit of improvement to find.
“I really don’t know what we will do with him now. He may not even run again this season.
“I woke up this morning and didn’t want to come to Cheltenham after Crystal D’Ainay yesterday, but this isn’t too bad.
“The confidence was down a bit – mine have not been running well this week, but I am just thrilled.
“It means everything for the whole team. It was very quiet this morning, but this makes it worthwhile.”
Faasel’s trainer Nicky Richards said: “I thought halfway up the hill he might have got there.
“Dobbs said he thought he was getting there and then the other fella – all credit to the winner – pulled out a bit more. It was a great battle between two nice horses.
“Dobbs said ours didn’t do anything wrong. He battled all the way to the line and on the day we’ve just been beaten by a better horse.
“He never jibbed. He kept his head down. He’s a nice horse with a future and if he comes out of it okay he’ll go to Aintree.
“I still can’t get a winner at this meeting.”
Howard Johnson, trainer of Akilak said: “The ground has gone against him and it was a rough race, but that didn’t cost him.
“He must have juice in the ground – unfortunately it dried up too much. But he has still run a good race.
“He will not run again this season unless he gets soft ground. I don’t think he’ll go to Aintree, but I’ll keep him ticking over and maybe go to Punchestown if the ground was right.
“Alan Shearer (the Newcastle United skipper is one of the owners) is not here - he is watching it on TV, but his wife Lainya is here.”
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