Liberthine gives Henderson third win
Liberthine gave Nicky Henderson his third winner of the meeting when causing a 25-1 upset in the Mildmay Of Flete Handicap Chase at Cheltenham today.
The six-year-old, ridden by amateur Sam Waley-Cohen, galloped on stoutly up the hill to beat Banker Count by seven lengths, with Simply Gifted third and the favourite Brooklyn Breeze fourth.
Supreme Prince, Banker Count and Scots Grey set a strong early pace, while Waley-Cohen was content to stay at the rear of the field on his father Robert's six-year-old mare.
Supreme Prince dropped away before falling at the 11th fence, where Ghadames went on from Scots Grey and Brooklyn Breeze, who was full of running.
Tony Dobbin set sail for home at the third-last fence and the gamble on Lenny Lungo’s gelding, backed down from 7-1 to 9-2 market leader, looked like being landed.
However, he faded rapidly after the second-last and was headed by Liberthine, who settled the issue with a good jump at the final fence.
