Watch incredible head-bobbing finish as Brit horse The Real Whacker denies Gerri Colombe in Cheltenham Festival thriller
THIS is the incredible head-bobbing finish that saw Brit horse The Real Whacker deny favourite Gerri Colombe in a Cheltenham Festival thriller.
Sun Racing’s very own Templegate made 8-1 The Real Whacker his nap for the second race on day two.
The Patrick Neville-trained horse near enough made all in the 3m Grade 1 Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase.
But as rivals faded away one by one up that famous Cheltenham hill, 5-4 fav Gerri Colombe kept finding more and more.
Ridden by Jordan Gainford for Irish trainer Gordon Elliott, Gerri Colombe simply ate up the ground as he bid to make it nine wins in a row.
But Sam Twiston-Davies somehow just kept finding more on The Real Whacker.
He strained every sinew and just, just held on by a short head to scoop the £100,000 first-place prize.
It was the finish of the Festival so far and saw Gerri Colombe’s unbeaten record end in the most devastating fashion.
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The pulsating climax also gave Yorkshire-based Neville his first winner at racing’s biggest meeting.
A delighted Twiston-Davies said: “He races in a great manner and although he’s in front and does the hard work.
“My God that felt like a long way up the run-in!
“He’s a fantastic racehorse and I’m so lucky to ride. Paddy said he was in really good nick and fair play, he was spot on.
“All the lads were saying well done but I didn’t know for definite, but you never know until it’s done.”
Willie Mullins’ massive 50-1 outsider Bronn completed the places.
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