The Real Whacker hits Cheltenham rivals for six

Simon Milham
November 13, 2022 2:19 pm

Notable success for trainer Patrick Neville.

On the day that England won the T20 Cricket World Cup it was perhaps appropriate that The Real Whacker scored a notable success at Cheltenham.

The six-year-old galloped his four rivals into submission on his first try over fences, taking the mallardjewellers.com Novices’ Chase under Gavin Sheehan.

The 10-1 shot, who is trained by Patrick Neville, made most of the running and still had plenty left at the finish in the extended three-mile event to fend off the challenge of Indigo Breeze by half a length.

Trained by Gordon Elliott, the latter looked certain to score as he cruised upsides at the last, but The Real Whacker (10-1) found plenty, with the well-supported Bardenstown Lad staying on for third after struggling throughout.

The Real Whacker wins the https://t.co/V1I02dYXdy Novices’ Chase 🥇
Patrick Neville is back in the winner’s enclosure at Cheltenham! 🙌#ITVRacing | @CheltenhamRaces | @GavinSheehan92 | @RishiPersad1 pic.twitter.com/YXKFUvK0fu

— ITV Racing (@itvracing) November 13, 2022

Neville, who formerly trained in Ireland before setting up alongside Ann Duffield in Leyburn, has 16 horses in his care and now looks to have a decent flag-bearer.

Neville said: “This is his game, fences. I ran him here a couple of weeks ago and probably the ground was quick for him over hurdles and I was scratching my head going home, as I was disappointed with the run. I schooled him over fences and thought ‘this is his job’.

“He is a gorgeous horse. On softer ground, he’d probably be better. His jumping was outstanding. Gavin was outstanding on him. He went from the front and it is not easy for a horse, first time over fences, to do what he did.

“Gavin is very positive on the horses, that is why we use him.”

Explaining the set-up in Yorkshire, he added: “We moved over here 12 months ago. I was in Ireland and had plenty of winners, but was finding it hard. I am based at Anne Duffield’s. I was training the jumpers with Anne and she was doing the Flat horses, so we work well together.

“It is nice to have a winner today. We have a great team and a great team of staff and this one looks like he will stay further, definitely.”

John McConnell, who trains Bardenstown Lad, was at a loss to explain the favourite’s run, after he needed reminders on the first circuit and was never travelling at any stage.

He said: “It is in his mind, I think. He didn’t want to do it. We will look at headgear and probably go back over hurdles.”