Champions take centre stage
On the day they were crowned champions of their profession again, Paul Nicholls and Tony McCoy landed the big two winners on the final day of the jumping season at Sandown.
For 14-times top jockey McCoy, it was another incredible effort to steal the Bet365 Gold Cup aboard Hennessy, while trainer Nicholls took the bet365.com Celebration Chase with Twist Magic – not even the best two-miler in his yard.
McCoy refused to give up on the well-backed 13-2 shot Hennessy, who rarely appeared to be going well as Church Island bowled along in front.
He and 2006 winner Lacdoudal had it between them even after the turn for the second last, while McCoy was still 10 lengths down at the final fence.
Briery Fox took over on the run-in but Hennessy steadily bore into his advantage to head him right on the post.
McCoy explained: “He was OK for a bit but he started to jump left, although he was pricking his ears a bit and I knew I hadn’t got to the bottom of him.
“With a lazy horse you have to find a happy medium with how much you make them do and how much you leave to the end, but at the second last I knew he was going to stay on.
“Whether I was going to get there or not I wasn’t sure, but I’m delighted for Carl as he’s had a tough year and he’s one of my best mates.”
Llewellyn added: “I thought he (McCoy) was beaten with more than a circuit to go. The rest of us jockeys could win on the best horses, but he can win on the ones who aren’t – and that’s the test.”
While Nicholls’ top two-miler Master Minded was not risked on the fast ground in the Grade Two Chase, it was left to his sometimes quirky stablemate Twist Magic (7-2) to turn in an impressive performance.
Jockey Ruby Walsh said: “As soon as I got on him today he was just in a great frame of mind – he must have got out of the right side of bed!
“He bolted up here in a Tingle Creek and I thought he was going to win an Arkle before he fell at the second last.
“He’s won a couple of Grade Ones for me and is a good horse.”
Top novice Kalahari King was 6-5 favourite and was beaten 10 lengths in second despite not looking at his best. Trainer Ferdy Murphy expects him to be a lot better for the experience.
Laura Mongan’s Alsadaa (13-2) was rewarded for a succession of brave efforts in the big handicaps by skipping eight lengths clear in the Listed bet365.com Hurdle, while trainer Nick Williams finished off on a celebratory note in the Bet365 Best Odds Guaranteed On Every Race Handicap Hurdle as Sangfroid (12-1) came to life on the run-in.
