Carlisle Racecourse staged its biggest jump meeting yesterday, and the big race proved a thriller.
The £40,000 Colin Parker Memorial Intermediate Chase saw Resplendent Grey beat the favourite Handstands in a driving finish.
Champion jockey Sean Bowen judged the race perfectly after following in the slipstream of front-running Handstands, trained by Ben Pauling.
When he pressed the button to challenge his mount went to the head of affairs, and although Handstands fought hard under Ben Jones there was three quarters of a length between them on the line.
Bowen had been aboard Olly Murphy’s seven-year-old when he won the Gold Cup Handicap Chase at Sandown on his final start of last season in April.
Coming back so well after 190 days off, and over a trip not considered his best, it was a fine performance – and a profitable one.
He had drifted in the market before eventually starting 9/2 with Handstands going off at 4/5 favourite.
Bookmakers Paddy Power reacted to the win by cutting his odds to 8/1 co-favourite for the Coral Gold Cup Handicap Chase at Newbury next month.
Trainer Murphy, who was not at the course, has indicated he will send him straight to Newbury on November 29 for the Coral Gold Cup.
