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Henry Crow (pictured) rode the Joe O’Shea-trained Barton Snow to victory in today’s £50,000 Princess Royal Challenge Cup Hunters’ Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.
Crow’s performance on the nine-year-old was described as “the ride of the Festival” by none other than the great Sir A P McCoy. Barton Snow, who was backed late into 9/2, was prominent throughout, travelling strongly, jumping cleanly and still providing Crow with a double handful as the runners turned the bend into the home straight.
At the final fence the combination had seen off all but one rival, the 7/2 favourite It’s On The Line ridden by one of Ireland’s greatest amateurs, Derek O’Connor. Barton Snow then made an uncharacteristic error, taking the fence half way up and parting the birch, but Crow sat tight and drove his mount almost a length ahead on the run-in. It’s On The Line fought back to close the deficit to a neck, but had to settle for second in the race for the fourth year running.
Barton Snow, pictured winning at Cheltenham’s evening meeting last year under James King (Neale Blackburn)
Seven and a half lengths back in third was the Kelly Morgan-trained Music Drive (33/1) under Ellie Callwood, while Golden Son (16/1) under Olive Nicholls finished fourth.
Victory for Barton Snow fulfilled a dream for Cheshire-based O’Shea who has a remarkable record in hunters’ chases. He has won Aintree’s Foxhunters’ Chase twice, four runnings of Haydock’s Walrus Hunters’ Chase and he saddled Cottage Oak to finish third at Cheltenham in 2013.
Interviewed immediately after the race on ITV Racing Crow said: “It’s easy when you’re on a good horse. My nan [Sheila Crow] isn’t very well and she won this race [as a trainer] with Cappa Bleu in 2008.
“All the credit has to go to Joe O’Shea, the trainer. He’s won three Foxhunters’ Chases now – he’s just an amazing trainer. I know how good a horse this is and I ride him up the gallops every day. Me and Joe absolutely love him.”
‘All the credit has to go to Joe O’Shea, the trainer’ said winning rider Crow (Ce)
Leicestershire-based Kelly Morgan said of Music Drive, whose third place was one better than last year: “I’m so proud of him. I only have a handful of horses at home, and getting any horse here . . . I’m proud to be coming here. When you see Gordon [Elliott] had his first winner of the week only yesterday, and he has so many horses it makes you proud to come here when you only have one dart to throw.
“It’s unreal to be back in this winner’s enclosure again. Ellie has given him a peach of a ride. She’s so under-rated, she has the coolest head on her and she rode a lovely race. I think my horse could have done with a stronger gallop, which sounds crazy, but he just stays all day and loves this place.”
