Dominant Aintree victory for Clan Des Obeaux
CLAN Des Obeaux made it third time lucky in the Betway Bowl Chase at Aintree with a superb performance, writes Ashley Iveson.
The Paul Nicholls-trained nineyear-old was third in this race in 2018 and second in 2019. He finally got his reward in some style to give Nicholls and jockey Harry Cobden a double after Monmiral triumphed earlier on the card.
Mister Fisher made the running to the 12th fence, where he unseated Nico de Boinville after making a bad mistake. Clan Des Obeaux, pictured, soon led, and stretched his rivals.
Clondaw Castle was the only horse able to lay down a challenge, but he could not live with the 5-2 favourite, who drew well clear to win by 26 lengths. Clondaw Castle was 18 lengths ahead of Native River. Dual Grand National hero Tiger Roll was fourth, a further 48 lengths away as the field finished well strung out.
Nicholls said: “When he’s been before he’s had two hard races in the Gold Cup, so the best thing we did was not take him (to Cheltenham), it makes such a big difference.
“He’s actually in the Bet365 Chase at Sandown and he doesn’t get a penalty, so that could be interesting. I’ve always thought that race would suit him. Next season, the King George will be his number one aim.”
GOLF: Bristol’s Joe Long suffered at the hands of the famous Augusta National course as he began his first Masters tournament with a ten-over-par round of 82.
The Amateur champion made a useful start in Georgia, parring the first four holes in four, five, four and three, but things unravelled at the fifth with a treble-bogey seven.
Long proceeded to bogey the next five holes in a row, and also bogeyed the 13th after a couple of pars.
Three more pars followed before a double-bogey at the 17th, although he did at least finish on a high with a birdie-three at the 18th to sign for a round of 82. His second round begins just before 5pm UK time today.