The Queen wins one of the feature races at Sandown with Close Touch

Last updated: 9th March 2013   Subscribe to RSS Feed

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Close Touch: Hugely impressive winner at Sandown

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Close Touch (8/1) gave The Queen a timely filip by routing his field in the EBF paddypower.com 'National Hunt' Novices Handicap Hurdle Final at Sandown.

In a week in which her Majesty had to endure a brief stay in hospital, her five-year-old underlined his rich potential by slamming his rivals by 12 lengths in what is traditionally a very warm heat.

Nicky Henderson's charge could be called the winner a long way out, cruising to the front two under Barry Geraghty and never asked anything resembling a serious question to draw clear of his toiling rivals.

Many Clouds (13/2) ran a big race under top weight to take second ahead of the 9/2 joint-favourites Edmund Kean and Whisper.

Geraghty told Channel Four Racing: "He was a little novicey at a couple down the back but he picked up really well and surprised me a little bit."