Mixed day for Moores at Festival

JOSHUA Moore toasted the return to form of Ubak after a fine display at the Cheltenham Festival yesterday.
Ubak, rightUbak, right
Ubak, right

But his father’s hopes of regaining the Queen Mother Champion Chase crown with Sire De Grugy were dashed.

Ubak finished third in the Grade 3 Coral Cup on day two of the four-day Festival.

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The eight-year-old son of Kapgarde led before the final flight of hurdles but could not keep pace with 12/1 winner Diamond King and Long House Hall.

However, the performance – which followed second place in the Grade 2 National Spirit Hurdle at Fontwell – continued his recent return to form after a disappointing start to the season over fences.

Joshua Moore was just disappointed the 28/1 shot did not have the turn of foot to claim victory.

The jockey said: ‘I think he just got outpaced up the hill towards the finish.

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‘He was caught a little bit for toe as he is a bit slow and the others quickened better than him.

‘He travelled up really well and looked to have a chance of winning before that.’

The rider’s father, Gary Moore, then saddled Sire De Grugy in the day’s feature – the Queen Mother Champion Chase.

The 10-year-old son of My Risk won the race in 2014.

But this time around he never threatened to get involved before weakening three fences from home and finishing eighth at 16/1.

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Sprinter Sacre, who won in 2013, claimed a memorable comeback triumph at 5/1.

Elsewhere on day two, Yorkhill won the Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle at 3/1.

Blaklion took the RSA Chase at 8/1, Diego Du Charmil (13/2) won the Fred Winter Handicap Hurdle and Ballyandy was the 5/1 winner of the Champion Bumper.