Home > Horse Racing > Early Doors edges out favourite Dallas Des Pictons to land Conditional Handicap Hurdle

Early Doors edges out favourite Dallas Des Pictons to land Conditional Handicap Hurdle


Early Doors edges out favourite Dallas Des Pictons to land Conditional Handicap Hurdle in Cheltenham finale

  • Early Doors provided a thrilling finale to the Cheltenham Festival on Friday
  • The 5-1 shot battled it out with favourite Dallas Dec Pictons in Handicap Hurdle
  • He pulled clear in the shadow of the post to win by a length and a quarter 

Jonjo O’Neill jnr and Early Doors provided a thrilling finale to the Festival as they landed the closing Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle.

Trained by O’Brien, 5-1 shot Early Doors and favourite Dallas Des Pictons battled it out after the last, with Early Doors pulling clear in the shadow of the post.

Defying top-weight, Early Doors was brought with a well-timed run to collar the confidently-ridden Dallas Des Pictons by a length and a quarter.

Jonjo O'Neill jnr and Early Doors provided a thrilling finale to the Cheltenham Festival

Jonjo O’Neill jnr and Early Doors provided a thrilling finale to the Cheltenham Festival

5-1 shot Early Doors and race favourite Dallas Des Pictons battled it out after the last

5-1 shot Early Doors and race favourite Dallas Des Pictons battled it out after the last

The latter’s Gordon Elliott-trained stablemate, Defi Bleu, was four lengths back in third. Champagne Court was fourth.

LEADERBOARD 

 1st Early Doors (Jonjo O’Neill Jr.) 5-1

2nd Dallas Des Pictons (D Meyler) 7-2 Fav

3rd Defi Bleu (C Brassil) 14-1

O’Neill jnr said: ‘It is a massive feeling. I’m thankful for Joseph to putting me on, as I knew he had a great chance.

‘To be fair he really picked up when I needed him to and he knuckled down. It is amazing. When you are put in massively privileged positions you don’t take it for granted, to do it together as a team is just amazing.

‘I rode in this race last year and the Kim Muir the year before, so to win at the Festival is amazing. There is no place like Cheltenham, but there is no place like the Festival, it is completely different kettle of fish.’ 

Jockey Jonjo O'Neill jnr and Early Doors pulled clear in the shadow of the post for victory

 Jockey Jonjo O’Neill jnr and Early Doors pulled clear in the shadow of the post for victory

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