Ponsonby’s Ace Dares to Win the Pendil

Who Dares Wins. The motto of the SAS, and the namesake given to a horse who put in a superb round of jumping to take his greatest prize yet in the Grade 2 Betway Pendil Novices Chase for trainer Alan King and jockey Tom Cannon.

The Henry Ponsonby Racing owned 8 year old has already taken big prizes on the level and over hurdles, the 2019 Northumberland Plate at Newcastle and the Grade 2 Summit Juvenile Hurdle of 2015 respectively, and he added this huge prize when breaking his chasing maiden in gritty, determined style to edge out the Paul Nicholls trained Southfield Stone and Bryony Frost by three quarters of a length.

Erick Le rouge and Lizzie Kelly set off at flagfall, but very quickly towards the first Master Tommytucker pulled his way to the lead, Harry Cobden vainly trying to restrain him back a little. All took the first two nicely, though Queen’s Magic was a little awkward at the third and fourth fences.

Swinging into the home straight for the first time the pace had slightly slackened, though Pistol Whipped had pulled his way through to go into second. Queens Magic was again not fluent at the seventh and dropped 5 lengths off the rear going past the stands, but was back on terms heading out into the country.

Up ahead Master Tommytucker was 3 lengths up on Pistol Whipped. At the ditch Master Tommytucker was very good at it, although Queens Magic was tailing off again, having dropped nearly 15 lengths off the pace. Comanche Red went to dispute second over the fence before the last ditch. Southfield Stone hit the ditch a little and wasn’t tidy, while Erick Le Rouge was being ridden along.

A masterful jumping display by the leader came to a crashing end at 4 out in a very similar way to his fall in the Kauto Star on Boxing Day. He chanced at it and dived at the fence, belting it and giving Harry no chance of retaining the partnership. In the process Erick Le Rouge was hampered, though thankfully both horse and jockey were okay.

Swinging in Pistol Whipped and Who Dares Wins were as one, with the latter going on to lead at three out with Southfield Stone, who had been produced by Frost to mount their challenge. Commanche Red was under the cosh on the rail and seemingly plugging on at one pace.

Who Dares Wins and Southfield Stone jumped the last together and set off up the run in to do battle, and it was the former who kept pulling out more for his jockey’s urgings and scored by three quarters of a length, with Commanche Red 10 lengths away in third, Erick Le Rouge back in fourth.

The winner has entries at Cheltenham in the Ultima Handicap, RSA Novices’ and Marsh Novices’ Chase, and most likely seems to be the Ultima, where he is a general 14/1 chance for the 3 mile contest.

Most of the talk post race appeared to be centred on yet another fall for the talented but somewhat frustrating Master Tommytucker, who holds every chance of being a talented, Graded winner over fences, but always appears to do a silly mistake that ends up costing him his chances in a race. He is in great hands however, with a terrific trainer and even better owner in Louise Cabble, so hopefully he can show and fulfil his promise in the future.