Harry Cobden and Willie Mullins combine for Grade 1 honours as Kitzbuhel makes all and holds off Final Demand in thriller
kitzbuhel made all to land the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase as Harry Cobden produced a superb front-running ride on day two of the festival. The six-year-old grey, sent off at 11-1, set a fierce pace from the front and was always tracked by stablemate Final Demand. The victory gave trainer Willie Mullins a second winner on the card following King Rasko Grey’s earlier success and marked Cobden’s fifth winner for Mullins.
Race breakdown
A superb ride from Harry Cobden saw kitzbuhel make all to land the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase. It made it two wins from two on day two of the festival for Willie Mullins as kitzbuhel followed up King Rasko Grey’s success in the opening race. Sent off at 11-1, the six-year-old grey set a fierce pace from the front and was always tracked by Final Demand. The contest came down to a battle between the pair, but kitzbuhel proved too tough and held off the challenge of his stablemate. Cobden celebrated as kitzbuhel dug in to hold Final Demand down the stretch.
Immediate reactions
Harry Cobden, jockey for trainer Willie Mullins, said: “No Drama This End I thought was my best chance of the week and it’s funny how 40 minutes changes your life. He [Kitzbuhel] is braver than I am. Thanks to the owners and Willie for putting me on – he’s a lovely horse. He was brilliant. He was lugging right the whole way and that was why I kept him down the middle. Everywhere I asked him he delivered and he was so tough. ”
Only 40 minutes earlier Cobden had pulled up the well-beaten favourite No Drama This End in the Turners’ Novices’ Hurdle, but kitzbuhel turned the day around and Cobden celebrated his fifth winner for Mullins. Forty minutes after the No Drama This End disappointment, kitzbuhel’s success changed the tide for Cobden.
Quick context and what’s next
kitzbuhel is a six-year-old grey making it two wins from two at this festival. The result followed King Rasko Grey’s win earlier on the same card and gave Willie Mullins a pair of successes on day two.
This race report is being updated and more news will follow shortly; expect further information on kitzbuhel and his connections as coverage continues.
