 Moloney guides State of Play over the last fence |
State of Play won the 50th running of the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Newbury to give in-form trainer Evan Williams the biggest success of his career. The 10-1 shot was given a patient ride by Paul Moloney and took the lead with a spectacular jump at the third-last.
Most of the 16-strong field were still in contention at the home turn but the final furlongs of the 3m 2�f race found them out and only six finished.
Juveigneur battled on for second with long-time leader Preacher Boy in third.
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State of Play, who had not run for 232 days, had been the ante-post favourite when the weights came out three weeks ago but had drifted out in the market since then.
 | State of Play is in the King George, but I don't see him as a Kempton horse |
Montgermont, at 9-2, and Turpin Green, at 5-1, were the two favourites for the race but both disappointed.
Vodka Bleu, a 15-2 shot, was going well coming into the home straight but ran out of steam.
Winning trainer Williams said his dream was to run the horse in the Cheltenham Gold Cup but said State of Play was unlikely to run in the King George VI Chase.
"I think this
horse could develop into one who could give Mr Nicholls' great white hope (Gold Cup ante-post favourite Kauto
Star) a scare up the Cheltenham hill.
"He is in the King George, but I don't see him as a Kempton horse and we
wouldn't go there unless the rains came.
Earlier, 2005 World Hurdle winner Inglis Drever made a winning return after nearly a year off the track.
The Howard Johnson-trained gelding, ridden by Tony Dobbin, outstayed Irish Wolf by a neck to win the VC Casino.com Long Walk Hurdle.
Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup
Newbury, 3m 2�m
1 State of Play (P Moloney) 10-1
2 Juveigneur (M Fitzgerald) 12-1
3 Preacher Boy (L Aspell) 12-1
4 Omni Cosmo Touch (D O'Meara) 28-1
Sixteen ran. Dist: 4l, 9l.
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