In stormy conditions at Cheltenham on Friday, jockey Sean Bowen delivered a ride reminiscent of Tony McCoy's famous never-say-die style, guiding novice chaser Wade Out to a hard-fought victory. With Storm Claudia battering the course, Bowen coaxed and cajoled his mount around two circuits, appearing unlikely to win until the final moments.
Wade Out trailed the remaining three runners for much of the nearly seven-minute race, jumping poorly and repeatedly dropping back. However, Bowen's persistence paid off as the leader tired at the last fence, and Wade Out stormed through to win by three lengths.
“He was lazy, he didn’t jump because he was lazy and probably the ground didn’t help him,” Bowen said. “He did a lot wrong and still managed to win. I was on nothing two out and at the last, but then he got to the front and had a look around again. So he’s a good horse, you just have to try and get the best out of him.”
Earlier, L'Eau du Sud provided the quality in the Grade Two Shloer Chase, winning by 15 lengths over Jonbon. Trainer Dan Skelton confirmed plans for the Tingle Creek at Sandown in December, saying, “We had him prepared for today and we’re super-happy with what we’ve seen. It means we’re going to head down that Grade One route.”
Saturday's Paddy Power Gold Cup card faces a precautionary inspection at 7.30am due to further rain. Clerk of the course Jon Pullin noted drying conditions are expected from 1am. The handicap chase, tightly rated by Timeform, features contenders such as Il Ridoto and Thecompanysergeant, with Conyers Hill an interesting each-way option at around 16-1.
