Holmwood Legend plunders Plate

In-form Legend leaps home

Last updated: 17th March 2011   Subscribe to RSS Feed

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Holmwood Legend Cheltenham

Holmwood Legend: Byrne Group Plate winner

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Holmwood Legend (25-1) was a gallant winner of the Byrne Group Plate at the Cheltenham Festival for trainer Pat Rodford on Thursday.

The 10-year-old jumped well in the main but had to recover from a mistake at the last under Keiran Burke before striding home by three-and-a-half lengths from Aimigayle (25-1).

Beautiful Sound was very popular and the 9-2 favourite ran on well up the hill to finish third, with Consigliere fourth at 20-1.

Burke said: "We ran a really nice filly on Tuesday (Sparky May) but got beaten by a really good horse in Quevega but we didn't really expect this one.

"It's absolutely unbelievable, it's every jockey's dream. This horse has been a legend today.

"We got 10 horses and two good enough for Cheltenham this year, hopefully we'll have 10 next year."

Somerset-based Rodford is due to retire this spring when he will hand over the reins to Burke.

He said: "This one is improving hand over fist and if he hadn't won on Saturday he wouldn't have got in this race.

"Before this year I'd had one runner at the Festival, and he fell at the first.

"I've put off retirement for the Festival.

"I won't retire yet as Keiran hasn't got his licence just yet."

Rodford added: "We were beaten by an aeroplane (Quevega) on Tuesday and this horse has gone under the radar a bit but he won well last time.

"Keiran has given him a brilliant ride."

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