AIDAN’S HEART
500
TAQUIN DU SEUIL got up in the shadow of the post to deny gallant Village Vic another famous course-anddistance success in the BetVictor Gold Cup at Cheltenham.
Trained by Jonjo O’Neill, gaining his third victory in the race, and ridden by Aidan Coleman, the nineyear-old outstayed his rival by a neck in the rainsoftened ground.
It was a battle of class horses, with the 8-1 winner shouldering secondtopweight of 11st 11lb and Village Vic only a pound lower as the two nine-year- dgdgddgdgdgddgdgdgdgddgd olds showed younger rivals a clean pair of heels.
The latter, adopting his usual front- running role under Richard Johnson, belied odds of 20-1 as he produced the trademark round of bold jumping that landed him last season’s ‘December’ Gold Cup and another big handicap on New Year’s Day.
O’Neill, whose other contender More Of That (Barry Geraghty) started 7-2 favourite but laboured from five out and was pulled up, said: “They’ve gone a good gallop there and stamina has won Taquin the day.
“Aidan said he was flat out all the way but he kept niggling and the horse kept responding. The overnight rain definitely helped him. He looks like he wants three miles, but I’m not so sure.
“A strong pace over this 2m5f clearly plays to his strengths and,an d , depending on how ow he comes out of the race, he’ll probably come back for the D e c emb e r version.”
Coleman, notching a debut success in the race, was rel ieved to have ridden his first winner since returning from injury at the start of the month.
“I’ve had a nightmare few weeks,” Coleman (above) said. “I broke my cheekbone and haven’t had a winner since Third Intention in the Old Roan at Aintree last month. This is just great and I coul could not be happ happier for Jonjo an and his team. “They ’ re hard - working but, for w what e v e r re reason, it just h hasn’t been c coming t together but we’re here now. “It’s my first year at Jackdaws Castle and they’ve been so good to me and welcoming, so have to a winner like this is special.
“My horse had to battle – it wasn’t easy for him. I had a fantastic partner and I’m delighted.”
Johnson was similarly pleased with Village Vic, though frustrated to have come so close to winning.
The champion jockey said: “I don’t think I’ve had a better ride in a big handicap round here – that’s how brilliant he was.
“He’s run the race of his life off that weight.”
Last season’s champion staying hurdler Thistlecrack overcome two jumping errors to land the mallardjewellers.com Novices’ Chase under Tom Scudamore and remain favourite for the Cheltenham Gold Cup in March.