Risque factor
IT’S GORDON’S DAY AT NEWBURY
CHRIS GORDON found the missing piece to the Betfair Hurdle puzzle with 9-1 shot Aucunrisque.
The trainer pulled a shrewd move to switch the novice chaser back over the smaller obstacles – and was rewarded with a gutsy triumph.
And Gordon’s Annual Invictus (6-1), fourth in the 2021 renewal of the big handicap, boosted the Newbury gains to a 69-1 double.
Both horses led from pillar to post for the in-form Hampshire stable.
After several nearmisses in recent
years, Gordon was chuffed with Aucunrisque’s length success from
Irish raider and 3-1 favourite Filey Bay.
The front two were wide apart up the run-in but Aucunrisque dug deep to repel his well-backed rival.
Nick Scholfield, sidelined for a significant period this season through injury, got the tactics spot on aboard the winner.
“This ranks right up there on memorable days, especially with my son winning the earlier race,” Gordon (above) said. “It is a special day, a really special day.”
Gordon’s son Freddie, a 7lb claimer, turned over another market leader in the Betfair Multiples Offer Every Saturday
Handicap Hurdle. His mount, Annual Invictus, answered every call as they beat Barbados Buck’s (3-1 fav) by three lengths.
The shocks kept coming for punters – and the runner-up’s trainer, 13-times champion Paul Nicholls, had an awful day.
Greaneteen (1-2 fav) lacked his usual spark in the Grade Two Betfair Exchange Game Spirit Chase behind the Venetia Williams-trained Funambule Sivola (7-1).
Nicholls’ other big hope McFabulous was found to have an irregular heartbeat after being pulled up in the Best Odds On The Betfair Exchange Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase.
The yard’s fancied runner Hitman then chased home Zanza (16-1) in the Grade Two Betfair Denman Chase.
Trainer Philip Hobbs was toasting his 3,000th career win as the blinkered gelding passed the post seven lengths ahead.
“It’s taken us a long time to do it but it’s very satisfying,” he said.
Former champion jockey Richard Johnson, who rode many of Hobbs’ winners, said: “He has always been a fantastic trainer, whether it was at Newton Abbot in the winter or at Cheltenham in March.”