Madison strikes in Bowl tinged with sadness

MADISON Du Berlais put his Cheltenham Gold Cup flop behind him as he capitalised on the fall of Denman to claim his third major prize of the season in the totesport Bowl at Aintree yesterday.

Thankfully worries about Denman’s well-being after his exit at the second-last proved wide of the mark and he returned with only a cut to his leg, but the race was marred the subsequent death of runner-up Exotic Dancer.

Following an interrupted preparation this season, Denman went into the Gold Cup with a solitary lacklustre run under his belt, but exceeded trainer Paul Nicholls’ expectations by chasing home stablemate Kauto Star.

His pleasing homework following that effort encouraged connections to test him around the sharp Liverpool circuit, and despite not travelling with his usual fluency the even-money favourite was laying it down to Madison Du Berlais when he crashed out of contention.

Jockey Sam Thomas was adamant he would have won, but Nicholls was just glad he had returned to the stables safely.

Nicholls, speaking two hours after the race, said: “Denman is fine apart from a cut to his elbow and is on his way home.

“It was quite a deep cut and he got a good smack on his elbow, but we X-rayed it and it was fine.

“He’ll have a good summer out at grass and then come back next autumn for a proper campaign.

“We knew this track wouldn’t suit him but he was in the right place at the right time, and would have galloped right to the line.”

Thomas added: “He would have won – he just stepped at the fence and I don’t know why.”

For Hennessy winner Madison Du Berlais the race marked a return to form after the eight-year-old finished down the field in the totesport-sponsored Gold Cup.

He headed to Cheltenham a leading contender after leaving Denman in his wake the previous month, but failed to match that effort.

Trainer David Pipe is unsure if it was the track that did not suit on that occasion, or if the horse sulked or had an off day, although he was confident the 12-1 chance would put up a better effort on Merseyside.

And he was proved right as Tom Scudamore’s mount made virtually all to hold the ill-fated Exotic Dancer by four and a half lengths.

Pipe, who also won the race 12 months ago with Our Vic, said: “It was a superb run by Madison. After two fences you could see it was different round here than in the Gold Cup.

“I got the feeling today that he was a different horse and it was the Madison you saw at Kempton.

“Horses like Madison, Lough Derg and Tamarinbleu are great young horses we bought in France and have been around for years – they have got me out of trouble a few times. The plan was to go out and make it unless there was lot of pace on.

“It could have been a different story if Denman stood up, and the main thing is that he is OK.

Scudamore added: “I was a bit worried when Denman came upsides me – but when I didn’t go on, I knew he’d keep on jumping and galloping.

“Madison been a great flagbearer for the stable this season.

“We haven’t had as good a season as we would have liked, but days like this make it easier. He’s very special to me. He’s won a Hennessy and he’s won for me around Aintree.”

Exotic Dancer landed the Bowl two years ago having long lived in the shadow of Kauto Star, and ran his usual honest race to finish second under Tony McCoy.

Tragically he collapsed and died half an hour after crossing the winning line.

Trainer Jonjo O’Neill said: “We took the saddle off him and he went back to the stables and was OK.

“We were leading him round and Hannah, who looks after him, felt he wasn’t right so we took him down to the vets, where he laid down and that was it - there was nothing we could do.”