Marracudja completes Kempton walkover
Skelton chaser was the only qualifier for Festival consolation race.
Marracudja secured the easiest GBP 15,640 of his life in the opening Virgin Bet Silver Bowl Handicap Chase at Kempton. The extended two-and-a-half-mile heat was conceived as a consolation race for those balloted out of Cheltenham handicaps, but a reduced number of entries at this year’s Festival meant only Marracudja was eliminated at the meeting. Dan Skelton’s 10-year-old was therefore the horse to qualify for the race, with Bridget Andrews getting the leg up for his required canter down the course. Marracudja had only to walk to the furlong marker and canter back past the winning post to take home the first prize. Andrews said: “I’ve only ever once before been involved in a walkover, which was at Warwick, and it’s a strange situation when you go to the furlong marker and canter back over the line – especially because this horse was very full of himself and he’s not the easiest.” Kempton clerk of the course Barney Clifford added: “Since I started clerking here in 1999, this is only the second walkover. The first was in 2002 – it was a chase on the October Sunday meeting brought about by fast ground.” Marracudja had not secured a first prize since December 2019, when he was an impressive winner of the Castleford Chase at Wetherby, before going on to finish third in the Grade One Clarence House Chase a month later.Follow us on Twitter racing365dotcom and like our Facebook page.
Latest
-
Horse Racing
Hugos New Horse continues winning spree with four-timer
Sandown’s EBF Final in March on the agenda.
-
Horse Racing
Dysart Enos floors Queens Gamble in smart Market Rasen bumper
But Cheltenham not on the agenda for Fergal O’Brien’s highly promising winner.
-
Horse Racing
‘Fresh and well’ Conflated poised to make his mark in Gold Cup
‘We all have to beat Galopin Des Champs, but I think we’re in the mix’.
-
Horse Racing
Marie’s Rock options open, with Festival picture ‘changing daily’
‘Mouthwatering’ Mares’ Hurdle clash with Honeysuckle possible, but so is Stayers’ Hurdle.
-
Horse Racing
Elliott willing Kennedy to be fit for Cheltenham – but Russell remains able deputy
‘It’ll be tight and he knows that – it’ll be down to the wire’.
-
Horse Racing
Gordon Elliott fears consequences of new whip rules could be ‘frightening’
Trainer worried there could be a shortage of jockeys at major meetings.
-
Horse Racing
Zanahiyr faces losing third place in last season’s Champion Hurdle
Gordon Elliott runner tested positive for a prohibited substance in March.
-
Horse Racing
Jamie Moore relatively unscathed following Fontwell fall
But rider will have to watch weekend action from the sidelines.
-
Horse Racing
Green Brook set to head straight for Pertemps challenge
Next stop Cheltenham for Venetia Williams-trained six-year-old.
-
Horse Racing
Dettori banking on Country Grammer in Saudi Cup
Last year’s runner-up looked as good as ever on his return.