Soldatino triumphs for Henderson
Friday 19 March 2010
Soldatino arrived late on the scene to deny Barizan what would have been a fantastic victory in the JCB Triumph Hurdle.
The Evan Williams-trained Barizan was booted into an early lead by Tom O'Brien and turning into the straight, he was still 15 lengths clear.
However, the famous Cheltenham hill began to take its toll and after making a mess of the final flight, Barry Geraghty produced Nicky Henderson's 6-1 chance to lead 100 yards out and win by a length and a quarter.
The strongly-fancied Alaivan stuck on for third but was effectively never in the race, while favourite Carlito Brigante was fourth.
Henderson said: 'They went a sizzling gallop, but Barry said he did think he had the leader in his sights and the horse has done well to go and do that.
'The one thing he definitely does is stay. He had ear plugs in today. At home we work him in a hood.
'You nearly felt sorry for the second horse because he got away from them. You have to say he's run a fantastic race.
'He still is just a baby so I don't think you will see him out again this season.'
Geraghty said: 'It was a good performance. The leader set off very quick, I had to drop in and switch off. The leader went off that quick he had to stop.
'I gave him a couple of slaps before the last to keep him going forward. I knew I would get there well enough.
'It's a long way from the second last home and having gone that quick, he couldn't keep it up to the line.'
The runner-up's owner Peter Conway said: 'That was fantastic. I thought we had it but we've been pipped at the post and that's how it goes.
'He was the forgotten horse in the race - nobody even mentioned him.
'He's off to Aintree next and then Punchestown hopefully.'
Alaivan's rider Andrew McNamara said: 'I thought the leader would have to stop for us to pick him up and as it happened he didn't. Third is as good as we were on the day.'
