Home/Sports/Cormier claims Morebattle honors to set up bonus offer | Race News
Cormier claims Morebattle honors to set up bonus offer | Race News
Eleon2022-03-05
Cormier backed a Cheltenham success in his last outing by winning the prized bet365 Morebattle Hurdle at Kelso.
Sean Quinlan delivered Brian Ellison's charge to lead down the straight and win the richest run ever at the Borders venue.
Only four of the eight scheduled flights were skipped as the two straight line obstacles were omitted on both circuits due to low sun.
Metier, the 3-1 favourite, led on the last of the jump flights but there was still a long way to go and he faded.
Buveur D'Air, who was in his first run in almost a year, didn't make an impression and it was Cormier (8-1) who came out of the pack to take the race by storm.
He fought hard to score a length and a half clear of Saint D'Oroux with Faivoir a nose in third place, putting him in line to bid for a £100,000 bonus if he follows up with the County win Hurdle at Cheltenham. Festival.
Ellison said: "He's a great little horse that never lets you down. He was very enthusiastic when we first got him, but he's obviously settled in now and you can turn him off.
"He's just gotten better with racing and he's a lot more mature than before.
"Sean said he left early today, they were going so fast, then he just came hard in the top corner. On the contrary, he came too early.
"Going over hurdles on the straight didn't bother him because he won a few races on the flat.
"He won at Cheltenham so we know he's acting there. Whether he's good enough doesn't really matter – he's now won a £100,000 race and Dan (Gilbert, co-owner) lives across the road from Cheltenham."
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