 Numide (far right) pulled away from rival Aigle D'Or to triumph |
Numide edged out favourite Aigle D'Or in the final strides to claim a memorable win in the Greatwood Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham on Sunday. Aigle D'Or, ridden by Tony McCoy, had jumped into the lead off the final fence but could not shake off Numide. The five-year-old, ridden by trainer Gary Moore's son Jamie, made his lighter weight handicap pay and took the victory by a head. King's Revenge came through to take third with Squadron fourth. Pigeon Island had led the race away with an injection of pace and Paddy Brennan, who won Saturday's Paddy Power Gold Cup on board Imperial Commander, kept him in the lead until the penultimate fence. Aigle D'Or, Numide and Squadron pulled away from the field as they cleared the last but, as Squadron faded, Numide, a 5-1 shot, nosed ahead of the 7-4 favourite to take the win. "I said before the race that he would either win or be last," said Moore. "He's quirky but he loves soft ground and he had no weight today. "Me and Dad thought he was the best handicapped horse in the world if he puts it all in and he travelled like a dream today." Meanwhile, top Irish jockey Ruby Walsh is hoping to return within a month after a bad fall at Cheltenham on Saturday. He was taken to Cheltenham General Hospital after being kicked in the stomach when Pride of Dulcote fell in the Cleanevent Handicap Hurdle. Walsh ruptured his spleen, and Sam Thomas is set to deputise for him for trainer Paul Nicholls. It means Thomas will be on board Kauto Star in the Betffair Chase at Haydock on Saturday. Walsh will hope to return in time to ride Master Minded in the Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown on 8 December.  | 606: DEBATE |
In Ireland, dual Champion Hurdle winner Hardy Eustace defied his advancing years and odds of 14-1 to win the Grade One Maplewood Development Hurdle at Punchestown. Bookmakers were impressed and installed him as a 20-1 chance to win a third Champion Hurdle, aged 12, at Cheltenham in March. Hardy Eustace saw off the 2007 Greatwood winner Sizing Europe, with Jered a disappointing third.
Greatwood Handicap Hurdle Cheltenham 2m 110yds 1 Numide (J E Moore) 5-1
2 Aigle D'or (A P McCoy) 7-4 Fav
3 King's Revenge (J A McCarthy) 16-1
12 ran. Dist: hd, 5,
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