Somersby takes impressive victory in the Grade 1 Victor Chandler Chase
Somersby bagged his first Grade 1 victory at Ascot on Saturday, January 21, 2012. He had the better of Finian’s Rainbow, who ended up being the runner up in the event.
Somersby was not the favourite to win, as he had a starting price of 9 to 2, but managed to spring up a surprise in the end. The eight-year-old horse got the victory under jockey, Dominic Elsworth.
The victory was quite pleasing for Henrietta Knight, who is the trainer of the triumphant horse. She has been working hard in top level horse racing for the past seven years, but this was the first time when she tasted success.
Commenting on the success of her trained horse, Knight said:
“I worried a bit pulling him back to two miles one, but he ran such a good race here last year and he loves the course. He travelled very well throughout. It was one of those days where everything went right. It's a wonderful feeling.”
On the other hand, Somersby’s jockey was also ecstatic with the outcome of the race.
He rode very well and earned his maiden Grade 1 victory at Ascot, claiming that he was confident that his horse would end up on top in the end.
The race proved to be a disappointment for the joint favourites, Finian’s Rainbow and Al Ferof, who completed the distance in second and third place, respectively.
They had a starting price of 5 to 2, and were expected to fight each other for victory.
However, both the favourite horses were unable to match the speed of Somersby, who is known to be a tough competitor at Ascot.
Finian’s Rainbow’s jockey, Barry Geraghty, was pleased with the charge of his horse and said that he could have won, but it was not his day.
He further went onto praise the winning horse and congratulated his trainer.
Despite Al Ferof’s inability to challenge the top two horses his trainer, Paul Nicholls, was upbeat about the future of the seven-year-old.
He said:
“He came here to get experience for Cheltenham. Ruby Walsh (jockey) is delighted and I'm delighted. I've left plenty to work on and he'll run in the Arkle unless the other race [the Champion Chase] falls apart, which it won't.”
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