Ghizao makes headlines in Independent Newspaper Novices' Chase
Despite having won the race for times in the last 10 years – and seven times overall – the markets ignored the Paul Nicholls runner in the first race at Cheltenham.
Not anymore after Ghizao won the Grade Two Independent Newspaper Novices' Chase, with Timmy Murphy becoming the latest jockey to profit from the misfortune of stable jockey Ruby Walsh.
The five runners were tight in the market and equally so in the race itself with Loosen My Load, Kilmurry, Ghizao disputing the early lead while Radium was making some slow jumps.
Kilmurry was beginning to backpedal from five out, but Murphy had Ghizao going full throttle down the hill to the third-last. That caught Captain Chris flat-footed and it also had Loosen My Load struggling off the turn. By now Murphy had already seen a stride to the second-last, which he met in great style to win by 10 lengths from Captain Chris.
“He was jumped his hurdles liked he want a fence,” Murphy said. “And the ground was a big factor – but he’s very accurate and very neat.”
The second-last fence, at which jockey Christian Williams broke both arms in a fall the previous day, is proving to be less than straightforward since it has be re-sited for this season. However, Murphy took the view that affirmative action was the best policy. “It might be a fraction close to the bend that fence but, if you start looking too much, it draws you into it a small bit. But he was fabulous.”
One man who was far from surprised by the win was Nicholls himself, who thought that Ghizao would come on from his second place to Kilmurry at Cheltenham the previous month. “I had a nice little bet – I couldn’t believe he drifted like he did,” Nicholls said, having paid the milk bill for the next few weeks. “He just needed the run the last day, which I said beforehand he would. He’s improved enormously ad the experience didn’t do him any harm.
“He was struggling with his breathing last year – had an op in the summer - and that’s why I was late starting him. I’ve always believed in him but he had to deliver – and today he has. He worked brilliantly with Master Minded on Wednesday and I thought we might be getting somewhere with him.”
Master Minded, who missed this meeting, is expected to run at Ascot on Saturday for the Amlin 1965 Chase. “That’s the plan,” Nicholls said. “It’s encouraging that the two of them have been working well together the last two weeks, so I think Master Minded will run on Saturday.”
On the same day What A Friend will be running for Nicholls in the highlight race of the day, the Grade One Betfair Chase at Haydock Park. “That’s been his target since he came in and it’s a hot-looking race because he’s taking on the Gold Cup winner [Imperial Commander] but we’ve got to start off somewhere.”
This is a race that Kauto Star won for the third time last season but he was not entered this season. However, Nicholls is still not sure whether the horse will try to carry top weight in the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury later this month before he attempts a record-breaking fifth victory in the King George VI Chase at Kempton Park on Boxing Day.
“I’m going to have a chat with Clive [Smith, the owner] tomorrow. I’ve said to Clive if you want to have a serious go at the King George for a fifth time are we going to leave the race behind at Newbury?”
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