Medinas upsets home team at Ffos Las
Report: Ffos Las, Saturday
William Hill Welsh Champion Hurdle (Limited Handicap) (Class 2) 2m4f, 4yo+
THE Welsh Champion Hurdle is heading over the border and into Wiltshire after the Alan King-trained Medinas prevailed in a tight finish under Wayne Hutchinson.
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Early in the home straight it looked as though Ffos Las supremo Dai Walters would maintain his 100 per cent record in the race as the David Pipe-trained Tanerko Emery travelled strongly into contention.
However, up the long straight at Ffos Las, the complexion of the race changed more than once as Tanerko Emery came up short.
There was still hope for the home team as the Rebecca Curtis-trained Peckhamecho hit the front under Nick Scholfield but as Tanerko Emery cried enough, a final challenge came from Medinas, who prevailed at 6-1 under a strong ride.
King, watching the race at Sandown, is now looking at Cheltenham for the six-year-old.
He said: "There was nothing between my runners on ratings and I asked Choc [Robert Thornton] which one he wanted to ride and we both decided on the other one [Balder Succes].
"He's qualified for the Pertemps but I think we'll look at the Coral Cup."
Favourite Oscara Dara proved a bitter disappointment for Tony McCoy and Nicky Henderson.
It wasn't all bad news for Walters, who was successful with Top Gamble earlier on the card and can take comfort that the feature race, run as a limited handicap for the first time, attracted 14 runners.
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