RACENEWS RACECOURSE SERVICE
GOLD CUP DAY, FRIDAY, MARCH 13
Next Sensation lands the last
A P McCoy was out of luck in his final race at The Festival as a jockey, the A P McCoy Grand Annual Handicap Chase (for the Johnny Henderson Trophy), as his mount, Ned Buntline, could only finish fourth behind 16/1 winner Next Sensation.
The eight-year-old finished fourth behind Savello in this race last year after going off too quickly under Richard Johnson but his jockey this time around, Tom Scudamore, gave him a perfect ride as the pair recorded a four length victory.
"It's great to ride a winner at The Festival for my brother (trainer Michael Scudamore) but also because we lost Granny and Granddad (former jockey and trainer Michael Scudamore) within a short space of each other over the summer," said the jockey.
"Granddad had been such an integral part of our lives for so long obviously and, if it wasn't for him, we wouldn't be here. It's a shame he's not here but he'll definitely be having a Scotch or two with the likes of Terry Biddlecombe and all the other old jockeys up in heaven.
"Any winner here is extraordinary and I've very lucky to ride for David (Pipe) and my brother. It's great for Mark Blandford (owner) too as he's Michael's godfather and we're all good friends.
"Someone is definitely looking down on us, especially as he tried to take the fourth fence with him and if I'd have come off him there, I'd have got a holy rollicking off Granny.
"He does like to be headstrong up front but I think too much was made of that last year as there was a false start which lit him up and he went off too fast.
"Luckily today, I managed to relax him at the start as he was very keen going down. He settled after he hit the fourth and now he's grown up a bit.
Scudamore also paid tribute to the soon to be retired A P McCoy.
"I don't mind sharing the stage with A P," said Scudamore.
"The cheers when he came in said it all. I'll miss riding against him enormously. I'm not going to miss being beaten by him though! To have had the pleasure of riding against him and competing against him has been an absolute privilege."
James Davies, whose mount Dresden fell four out, has been taken to Cheltenham Hospital following his fall. He was conscious.
Scudamore steals McCoy's thunder for first win
Next Sensation's victory in the A P McCoy Grand Annual Handicap Chase gave trainer Michael Scudamore his first Festival victory.
Scudamore said: "We were worried about whether to run him on this ground; I had a long chat to Tom [his brother, who rode Next Sensation] after the Gold Cup, because we do feel he's much better on better ground.
"It's funny, two weeks ago he suddenly came to himself. He wasn't right all over Christmas. Credit to the owner Mark Blandford, because without him we wouldn't be here at all."
Next Sensation was fourth in this race last year.
"He was clear jumping the last fence last year and got caught," said Scudamore.
Commenting on the fact that A P McCoy finished fourth in the race on what was his final Festival ride, Scudamore said: "A P is an absolute legend and we'll never see the likes of him again. It would have been a lovely story if he'd won this - I've just glad he didn't finish second. We wouldn't have been very popular if he had, I think!
"It was lovely to have [brother] Tom on board, very special. He's done so well. He's improved so much in the past four or five years.
"Driving here in the rain this morning, all your expectations disappear, so it's very special."
5.15pm A P McCoy Grand Annual Handicap Chase
(Grade 3)
£90,000 guaranteed For 5yo+ Minimum weight 10-0 Penalties after February 22nd, a winner of a chase 5lb. Penalty value 1st £51,255.00 2nd £19,233.00 3rd £9,630.00 4th £4,797.00 5th £2,412.00 6th £1,206.00
1) NEXT SENSATION (IRE) (Mark Blandford) Michael Scudamore t8-11-02 Tom Scudamore 16/1
2) EASTLAKE (IRE) (J P McManus) Jonjo O'Neill 9-11-04 Paul Carberry 12/1
3) CROCO BAY (IRE) (Lady Jane Grosvenor) Ben Case 8-11-08 Kielan Woods 14/1
4) NED BUNTLINE (J P McManus) Noel Meade IRE h7-11-01 A P McCoy 4/1 jf
5) TURN OVER SIVOLA (FR) (International Plywood Ltd) Alan King 8-10-12 Denis O'Regan
6) DICK DUNDEE (Declan Brennan & Paul Nolan) Paul Nolan IRE b10-10-10 Mikey Fogarty
7) TED VEALE (IRE) (John Breslin) Tony Martin IRE 8-11-03 Bryan Cooper
8) MY BROTHER SYLVEST (Teddington Racing Club) David Pipe b9-10-05 Michael Heard (7)
9) FESTIVE AFFAIR (J P McManus) Jonjo O'Neill 7-10-3 Richie McLernon
10) TURBAN (FR) (Edward O'Connell) Willie Mullins IRE 8-11-12 Paul Townend
11) ASTRACAD (FR) (Raymond Mould) Nigel Twiston-Davies t9-10-03 Ryan Hatch (5)
12) FIRTH OF THE CLYDE (Robert Goldie) Malcolm Jefferson 10-10-10 Brian Hughes
13) BELLENOS (FR) (John & Barbara Cotton) Dan Skelton t7-10-10 Harry Skelton
14) BOLD HENRY (J P McManus) Philip Hobbs 9-10-10 Richard Johnson
DNF) GRUMETI (McNeill Family) Alan King b7-11-00 Wayne Hutchinson
DNF) CHRIS PEA GREEN (C Green & Galloping On The South Downs) Gary Moore 6-11-02 Joshua Moore
DNF) BRICK RED (Julian Taylor & Andrew Brooks) Venetia Williams 8-11-09 Aidan Coleman
DNF) MOUNT COLAH (IRE) (Thomas Walsh) Jerry Cosgrave IRE h9-11-06 Mr Noel McParlan (5)
DNF) BLOOD COTIL (FR) (Susannah Ricci) Willie Mullins IRE 6-11-00 Ruby Walsh 4/1jf
DNF) TANKS FOR THAT (IRE) (Christopher Hanbury) Nicky Henderson 12-10-10 Barry Geraghty
Fell) DRESDEN (IRE) (Dan Lloyd) Henry Oliver 7-10-08 (inc 5lbex) James Davies
21 ran
Non-runners: Claret Cloak (going), Karinga Dancer (going), Solar Impulse (withdrawn)
Distances: 4, 1, 1½, ¾, 5, 8, ¾, 2¼, hd, 2½, 1¼, 1¾, 25
Breeder: Regina McAuliffe
Breeding: b g Brian Boru - Road Trip (IRE) (Anshan)
Tote Win £20.50 Place £3.50 £3.20 £2.80 £1.80 Exacta £239.20
Winning Trainer: Scudamore, Michael J Based: Eccleswall Court, Bromsash, Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire Background: Son of eight-time national hunt champion jockey Peter Scudamore and grandson to Michael snr, who rode the winner of the Grand National, Cheltenham Gold Cup. Brother Tom is also a successful Cheltenham Festival winning jockey. Michael jnr grew up surrounded by horses but he initially chose to become a rugby player, and was a flanker for the Wales U-19's, Ebbw Vale and Gloucester. Realising he wouldn't make it at the highest level, Tom instead tried his luck as a point-to-point jockey, riding three winners in a season. After quitting the saddle with weight problems, Michael became assistant to his grandfather before taking over the reins on April 30, 2008. First Winner (Flat): Directa's Digger, Showers & Eyebaths Handicap, Haydock, May 30, 2008 First Winner (Jumps): Fourpointone, Magpas Lifesavers Handicap Hurdle, Huntingdon, August 25, 2008 Cheltenham Festival wins (1): A P McCoy Grand Annual Chase (2015 Next Sensation) Jump Wins (2008/09-2013/14): 12; 12; 9; 9; 7; 8 Jump Wins This Season: 12
Winning Jockey: Tom Scudamore Born: May 22, 1982 Background: Appointed stable jockey to David Pipe for the 2006/07 season, marking a return to Pond House in Somerset where he began his career as an amateur for Pipe's father Martin. Tom comes from an illustrious line of jockeys. His great-grandfather Geoffrey rode winners as an amateur, grandfather Michael was Oxo's pilot when winning the 1959 Grand National and his father Peter was eight-times champion jockey. Tom has made a big impression since leaving Cheltenham College after A-levels in 2000. He won the amateur riders' title in the 2000/01 season and also landed the 2001 Flat amateur championship. He turned professional in October, 2001. Cheltenham Festival Wins (7): A P McCoy Grand Annual Chase (2015 Next Sensation), Ultima Business Solutions Handicap Chase (2008 An Accordion), Brown Advisory & Merribelle Stable Plate (2012 Salut Flo, 2014 Ballynagour), Racing Post Arkle (2014 Western Warhorse), Ryanair Chase (2014 Dynaste), Weatherbys Champion Bumper (2015 Moon Racer) First Professional Ride: Naughty Dandy (West Midland Light Kit Selling Handicap Chase, Hereford, Thursday, October 4, 2001 (6th)) First Professional Victory: Belle D'Anjou(ladbrokes.com Free Handicap Hurdle, Chepstow, Saturday, October 6, 2001) - only second ride since joining paid ranks Wins (2001/2002-2013/14): 32; 32;27; 47; 35; 59; 51; 62; 73; 63; 65; 85; 100 Wins This Season: 130
