Harry Cobden and Willie Mullins combine for Grade 1 honours as Kitzbuhel makes all and holds off Final Demand in thriller
A superb ride from Harry Cobden saw Kitzbuhel make all to land the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase.
It made it two wins from two on day two of the festival for Willie Mullins as Kitzbuhel followed up King Rasko Grey’s success in the opening race.
Sent off at 11-1, the six-year-old grey set a fierce pace from the front and was always tracked by Final Demand.
It came down to a battle between the pair, but Cobden’s mount proved too tough and held off the challenge of his stablemate.
Only 40 minutes earlier Cobden had been left disappointed after he pulled up the well-beaten favourite No Drama This End in the Turners’ Novices’ Hurdle. However, as is so often the case in racing, fortunes can change quickly and Cobden was soon celebrating his fifth winner for Mullins.
The winning jockey said: “No Drama This End I thought was my best chance of the week and it’s funny how 40 minutes changes your life. He [Kitzbuhel] is braver than I am. Thanks to the owners and Willie for putting me on – he’s a lovely horse.
Kitzbuhel: steered to victory for Willie Mullins by Harry CobdenCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)
“He was brilliant. He was lugging right the whole way and that was why I kept him down the middle. Everywhere I asked him he delivered and he was so tough.”
Final Demand had been well backed into 100-30 and Mullins gave even more credit to Kitzbuhel for holding off a horse of his calibre.
He said: “That was a hell of a performance to make all in a Brown Advisory and then fight off what is a top horse in Final Demand. I thought the latter had his measure coming up the hill, but what a brave performance.
“Things didn’t go right for him the last day, but he bounced back to form today.”
It was a disappointing result for the favourite Romeo Coolio, who was pulled up by Jack Kennedy after several costly jumping errors.
Following home Kitzbuhel and Final Demand in third was the Gary and Josh Moore-trained Salver, who ran a huge race at odds of 25-1. Oscar’s Brother was fourth.
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‘I never dreamt he’d be 11-1’ – Willie Mullins taken aback by huge drift as King Rasko Grey strikes with No Drama This End pulled up
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