Henllan Harri held off the late lunge of Vyta Du Roc to land the Bet365 Gold Cup at 40/1 by a rapidly-diminishing head.
Bet365 Gold Cup Handicap Chase
1st Henllan Harri 40/1
2nd Vyta Du Roc 6/1
3rd Theatre Guide 20/1
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Race Report
Not for the first time, Peter and Sean Bowen teamed up to shock the bookies with a hard-to-fathom 40/1 success for Henllan Harri in the Bet365 Gold Cup.
On the face of things, the nine-year-old looked to have plenty to find having managed to get his head in front just once in 11 previous starts this season and racing here from 4lb out of the handicap.
But Henllan Harri has always appreciated an attacking ride and Sean Bowen sent him to the front to the start and he answered every question asked of him.
Jumping the final fence, he had fought off the challenges of the likes of Theatre Guide, Sugar Baron, The Druid's Nephew, all of whom had raced closed behind at various stages.
But there was still a fight to be had as Vyta Du Roc and Benbens were among those flying from the back of the field and trying to get involved.
Henllan Harri drifted left on the run-in as his jockey asked for everything, but he kept responding and clung on to score by a head from Vyta Du Roc - who had jumped the final fence back in sixth place - with Theatre Guide third and Benbens fourth.
Reaction
Sean Bowen: I thought I had (won) but then Daryl (Jacob, on Vyta Du Roc) said he'd won it. He held on well and battled on very hard. He did what he does best. He stuck on well all the way and stayed every yard. He's very tough.
Peter Bowen: That makes it twice as special with Sean riding. He only had 10st, which helped, but he was 4lb out of the handicap - however he handles that ground. We were not sure about the trip but he stayed it well. I thought he would run well and I thought he would be in the first six. He ran above himself, I would say.
We were a bit worried as he has always jumped a bit left but he jumped really straight. He will have a long break now and we will see what he does early on in the season. On that form, if he goes up higher enough in the weights he could be seen as a National horse.
