1 year ago
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Fugitif (second from left) sets off late on in pursuit of Il RidotoFugitif and Gavin Sheehan struck late to deny front-runner Il Ridoto and Bryony Frost and win the December Gold Cup at Cheltenham.
Il Ridoto and Frero Banbou had pulled a long way clear of the rest of the field before Frero Banbou faded to leave his rival clear.
Il Ridoto kept his head in front before Fugitif (13-2) came from a long way back to snatch it in a photo finish.
It was a first winner at the track for trainer Richard Hobson after 42 losers.
Winning jockey Sheehan said: "It gave me confidence that they were going a gallop, but, at the same time, from a long way out I thought we've got to change at some stage, but I was just biding my time to chase and then hoping to finish stronger up the hill.
"He's a brilliant horse to ride. We got one fence wrong, that was it. Other than that, he was brilliant. It's just such a great feeling, coming down the hill and travelling like he did but at the same time thinking that the race was over.
"That's just a brilliant result for Richard Hobson and his team. They've had a lot of seconds here and that'll mean the world."
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