Fine time for the void National winner to gain compensation

Markel Insurance Handicap Chase | 3m2½f | RTV

Do not blame Philip Donovan if he has a good look round for yellow flags when riding Doing Fine at Cheltenham on Wednesday.

It was a member of the groundstaff wielding the stop signal that put paid to the biggest victory of his young career at Sandown.

The 7lb claimer passed the post first on the Neil Mulholland-trained chaser in the £50,000 London National on December 8 only for the race to be declared void – the yellow flag had been deployed as Houblon Des Obeaux had suffered a fatal heart attack on the bend on the previous circuit.

London National – the story of Sandown's controversial void race

Donovan and the other six riders who completed the course did at least get the ten-day ban they were handed overturned, so he gets back on Doing Fine, who races off the same mark as at Sandown in this £25,000 contest.

"The race went smoothly for Doing Fine at Sandown but not for other people," Mulholland said.

"He's come out of that in great shape and he's run well at Cheltenham before. He has a nice light weight and hopefully he can run another good race."

Doing Fine receives 19lb from topweight Cogry, a Grand National fancy, who was raised 4lb after winning over this course and distance for Sam and Nigel Twiston-Davies last month.

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