Search
Cheltenham 2024
- Main Site
- Cheltenham Home
- Cheltenham Cards
- Cheltenham Results
- Cheltenham Offers
- Cheltenham Odds
- Cheltenham Tips
- Cheltenham News
- Prestbury Cup
- Cheltenham Videos
-
Cheltenham Statistics
- Leading Trainer
- Leading Jockeys
- Leading Owners
- Previous Years
- Previous Appearances
- Breeding Profile of Winners
- Lady Jockeys at The Festival
- Leading Jockey Award Winners
- Most Successful Jockeys of All Time
- Current Jockeys Competing at Cheltenham
- Most Successful Jockey In..
- Leading Trainer Award Winners
- Most Successfull Trainer All Time
- Current Trainers Competing at Cheltenham
- Most Successful Trainer In..
- Cheltenham Trainer/Runner Index
- Desktop Site
Cheltenham 2024
- Home
- News
Donal Murphy
Double for Swan as Cloone fends them off
Cloone Rocket blunders over the last with The Lady Granuaile in second
© Photo Healy Racing
The 10yo veteran Cloone Rocket (16/1) fended off all challengers as he took the Kieran Kelly Memorial Beginners Chase under John Cullen to provide his trainer Charlie Swan with a double on the card (took the first with Rodriguez .
The son of Pistolet Bleu had just one run so far this year finishing last of ten behind Steps To Freedom on the all-weather at Dundalk in July.
Just like Rodriguez in the first, Swan was clearly waiting for good ground for this fellow as he was taken out of four of his last five engagements due to the ground conditions.
On just his third start over fences this evening and his first since July of last year, he tracked the leaders for much of the race before making headway to lead after the fourth last.
He was ridden along after two out and made a mistake at the last when pressed for the lead. However he kept on well under pressure on the run-in to score by a length at the line.
There was a wall of horses coming after him and the judge was called upon to determine the second and third finishers.
The Pauline Gavin trained The Lady Granuaile (20/1) just held off Jack Cool (7/2) for second by a short head while Sicilian Secret was a nose back in fourth with the fast finishing Brega Queen just a head behind in fifth at 18/1. El Fontan was sent off the well backed 2/1 favourite (9/2 this morning and reached 100/30 on track) for Gordon Elliott and Bryan Cooper but he could only finish a disappointing eleventh.
Winning trainer Charlie Swan said afterwards: "Mother of God what a ride! He is not the most natural of jumpers and he doesn’t get very high.
"He’s been a grand old horse and it’s good to get back in the winners enclosure with him.
"He needs fast ground and we have been dodging the ground with him all summer."
The versatile gelding was recording his seventh career success today adding to his bumper win, three successes over hurdles and his two victories on the level.
(On-course reporting by Gary Carson)