Tikram lands Flete Challenge Cup

Tikram (12-1) finished with a wet sail under Timmy Murphy to land the Mildmay Of Flete Challenge Cup.

Gary Moore’s challenger was towards the rear for a long way and looked to have a hopeless task turning for home.

But Murphy conjured a terrific burst from his mount to be there jumping the last and he had too much speed for long-time leader and favourite Iznogoud on the run-in.

Two and a half lengths was the margin of victory, with Fondmort a further one and a half lengths away in third. Kelrev was fourth.

Winning trainer Moore said: ``I've only had three or four runners here before and this is my first winner. When I was a jockey the only winner I had here was in a claiming hurdle.

“I’ve trained three Group winners, but this was far better.

“Jamie (Moore, son of the trainer) is banned, but I don’t think he could have given him as good a ride as Timmy did. He was typically ice-cool.”

David Pipe, son of Iznogoud's trainer Martin, said: ``He ran a blinder. He just got caught by one lower down the weights.''

Owner Bill Brown was delighted with the performance of his horse Fondmort, who ran a brave race under top weight to finish third.

He said: “That was absolutely brilliant, especially when you consider the enormous weight he carried.

“He jumped super and ran really well. He’ll be tailor-made for the new championship race next year over two and a half miles.

“He’s given the first two horses there almost two stone and that was very brave and gutsy. He loves it here.”