King Rasko Grey gained ample compensation for his near-miss at Leopardstown last month when handing Willie Mullins a record-extending eighth Turners Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham.
Sent off at 11-1 and the choice of Paul Townend from a host of Closutton contenders, King Rasko Grey was third in a blanket finish to a Grade One over two miles at the Dublin Racing Festival but thrived for the step up in trip at Prestbury Park.
In a race where Paul Nicholls’ 5-2 favourite No Drama This End could never make his presence felt and was ultimately pulled up, it was Nicky Henderson’s Act Of Innocence who carried British hopes on his shoulders heading into the home straight locked in battle with the Mullins raider.
However, he proved no match for the talented six-year-old, who relished every yard of the Cheltenham hill to come home two and a half lengths clear to give Townend his 40th Festival winner and also provide a welcome tonic for owner Audrey Turley after Galopin Des Champs was ruled out of the Gold Cup.
Mullins said: “I looked at the big screen after the race and I couldn’t believe he was 11-1. I thought he was one of ours coming here with a really good chance.
“You never have a banker coming to Cheltenham, but I thought he would be 2-1 or 3-1 max after his run at the Dublin Racing Festival. I wasn’t tipping him to my friends as I thought he’d be too short for them – they’re all very poor!
“I said after the Leopardstown that he would step forward. I thought he was a little short going into that and I expected him to improve.
“I think Paul chose to ride this horse straight away, there was no debate, and I thought the same – to me this fellow was head and shoulders above a lot of the horses here.
“It’s great for the Turleys after the disappointment (with Galopin Des Champs) earlier in the week, it’s fantastic for them to have a winner here.”
On what next season holds for his charge, he added: “I actually thought he could be a Champion Hurdle type. I don’t know whether he is or not and I’m sure he’ll jump a fence, but we’ll have a look at his Champion Hurdle credentials first.”
Of Act Of Innocence, who runs in the same Gordon and Su Hall colours of Supreme Novices’ Hurdle winner Old Park Star, Henderson said: “He got a nice run up the inside there and he maybe did put his head in front briefly, but he’s done nothing wrong and he’s a lovely, big horse who can only improve, as is the case with yesterday’s horse Old Park Star – they’re big, chasing type of horses.
“I think it’s holiday time for both of them, I would have thought so, I really would – I don’t think they need to do that again.
“They’ve got big futures and I suspect that is enough for them this year.”
