Cheltenham: Gemirande lands December Gold Cup for Venetia Williams and Charlie Deutsch | Racing News happymamay

Gemairandi pulled out all the stops to give Venetia Williams and Charlie Deutsch another big win on Saturday in the December Gold Cup at Cheltenham.

The eight-year-old was prominent throughout the £125,000 contest, but looked set to face a major threat from Madara when the challenger came to challenge the final two fences.

However, Gemirande (11/2) jumped those obstacles efficiently and found a little more over the hill to win by a length.

Last year’s winner, Vogitev, strongly defended his title, but had to settle for third place this time, seven and a half lengths behind.

“I’ve come to love this horse, he has such a personality and his jumping was electric,” Deutsch said.

“I’m glad he got his head in front, he loves racing and he’s very enthusiastic. His jumps are very fast, and he’s a very enthusiastic type, so I knew we needed a break on the way.

“I felt like I had a little bit there [at the last]it was just a question of whether Madara would get a little more, but he’s really game and trying.

“He’s definitely gotten better with age, and he struggled to finish his races early in his career. It’s good that he’s getting there now. Venezia is magical with what it does with these horses.”

Recent big wins for the trainer and jockey combination have included Royal Bagel and Dilo, and Deutsch added: “I’m really enjoying her, I’m confident and I know how Venetia is doing now. I have a lot of confidence in her and her horses.” “.

“It’s been amazing,” Williams said of her hot streak. “You always look at the big races on offer to see if you have something for them.

“I wanted to run this horse in the Paddy Power Gold Cup, but he was out of weight, so we went to Ascot instead. The way he went from last to the line at Ascot, I haven’t seen that for a year, I was very impressed and thought we should Definitely come here for this.

“Charlie wasn’t quite sure how to lift the weight (10 2lbs) and I didn’t know what he was going to do! Yesterday, I think he was 10 7lbs and he said ‘I’m going to lift the weight’. He could have chosen two options for the easier weight at Doncaster, but he was very keen to Come and ride it.

“He’s a big guy, he’s got big shoulders and he hasn’t weighed 10 pounds in a while. I think he’s a great jockey.”

“Last season wasn’t a full season at all for the horse. He had a really bad overtake that took a long time to get over, so last season didn’t really matter.

“We’re not hitting long-term goals. This was a good enough goal.”

Williams could be double-handed as he bids for another big victory in the Ladbrokes King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day.

“We hope to run both L’Homme Presse and Royal Pagaille at King George. L’Homme Presse worked this morning and that’s the plan at the moment,” she added.

The Bowen brothers share the spoils in thriller Triumph Trial

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 Terriferma.

James appeared to have gained a decisive advantage when the Warren Greatrex-trained Quantock Hills (11/2) made a good jump on the final flight to pull away.

However, Sean conjured up a late attack from the 18/1 shot on Teriferma to draw level straight on the line, giving Jack Jones a second successive success in this race after An Bradan Feasa’s win last year.

Irish forward Total Look paid the price for some costly jumping errors in the closing stages and was third as the 11/8 favourite.

“It’s a bit of a family affair for the Bowens family, and our mate is a lovely horse. He’s never run on the flat and he’s just really inexperienced. He’s traveled the race very well and I think he’s very intelligent,” Greatrex said. future.

“He wandered off when he hit the front – it’s a big place when you first come here.

“I thought we won at first and then I thought we were beaten. He was on his own and had nothing to run with, but he’s a good horse, I think.

“He could be a horse for the Boodles (Juvenile Handicap Hurdle). I think he would be better on softer ground, he looked the winner from a long way and we got there really, really early, I suppose.”

He added: “Those are two runners and two winners at Cheltenham this season for us now – I may not come back! Obviously what happened to Abufalosoldier at the last meeting was very sad, but he won and showed everyone what he can do that day.” “It’s part of the job, unfortunately.”

Jones said: “Very happy, it feels a bit strange to be on high alert, but I think it’s a winner, doesn’t it?

“It was a lot of fun. I think if he had finished second, or been nervous or won outright, he might have been the one to come out of the race from where we were and how we got to the second-place line.

“It’s funny because we actually underbid Quantock Hills in France, which is very strange, and for the Bowen boys to be very nervous as well.

“We’ve had our horse for two or three months and he’s been very straightforward. We won this race last year with An Pradan Vesa, who I think will be a bit more thoughtful, whereas this lad is a gentleman.

“Shaun said he jumped a little high and we were a little behind. He missed three and was a little away from ideal because of his jump, but the way it turned out, you’d rather go up that hill instead.” Slow down and I’m glad.

“I thought we were massively overpriced. He’s won two hurdle races and finished second at a top weight, so I don’t know how we came out at 18/1.

“I thought this kid was a better horse than he was last year, his education was good and there was no reason why he couldn’t become a good horse.

“Poodle racing would be a logical step. When Willie Mullins unleashes his pups, we will probably leave this racing [Triumph Hurdle] to them.”

Haiti Color is looking good for Rebecca Curtis

Rebecca Curtis appears to have discovered a horse that could take her back to the big time after Haiti Color put in a brilliant showing at Cheltenham.

The Welsh trainer is no stranger to success in the Cotswolds, having enjoyed festival glory with the likes of Tifourthry, At Fisher’s Cross and Stayers Hurdle champion Lisnagar Oscar.

However, it has been a while between drinks for Curtis, with the latter’s shock win four-and-a-half years ago being her last at graded level.

Haiti Colors, a double winner over hurdles at the end of last season, ran second on his chase debut at Chepstow in October before going one better at Aintree last month.

He was a 4/1 shot to follow in the Josh Wick Novice’s Birthday Limited Handicap Chase and jumped accurately throughout under title chaser Sean Bowen before digging deep into the home straight to prevail by two and three-quarter lengths.

Continuous Transmission edged 11/8 favorite Peaky Boy into second place.

“He continues to improve on this horse. He obviously had a great rookie season [over hurdles] “Last season, but he hit himself pretty bad the year before and actually missed a whole year, so he’s still a little behind for his age,” Curtis said.

“With the racing he keeps improving and I don’t know where he’ll really end up. I really liked him in the National Hunt Chase because he stays on all day, but Sean said he’s improved so much since his win at Aintree, it won’t do to know if he ends up in the Brown Advisory .

“It’s nice to be back here. We’ve got these types of horses again which will hopefully keep us on the map anyway.”

Glory Day by Lucy Wadham

Game On For Glory claimed a strong win in the Quintessentially Mares’ Handicap Chase at Cheltenham.

Lucy Wadham’s stint has gone well twice in defeat on the track, finishing second in the bumper in 2021 and in the Grade 2 Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase final last spring.

Having cleared away any cobwebs when finishing fourth on her reappearance at Market Racine in October, the eight-year-old was sent off at 22/1 under champion jockey Harry Cobden and dug deep in the final furlong to score by a length and three-quarters from So He said I am.

“She ran very well here in the spring and had a great start to the season when she ran very well at Market Racine,” Wadham said.

“We’ve been a bit behind since then, so we’ve waited for this race and I’ve done well.

“She’s strong and knows how to win. That was the goal. Maybe she’ll be back here in April, but I don’t know what we’ll do yet.”

“We had a bad day yesterday – we had four runners and almost all of them finished last. Today we had a winner at Doncaster and now a winner here – you can’t make up for that, can you? It’s a funny old game.”