Cotswold Chase: 'Dad would be proud' - Russell dedicates Ahoy Senor's brave win to late father

Saturday: Paddy Power Cotswold Chase, Cheltenham

Lucinda Russell will forever treasure spending the final moments of her father’s life this week by his side and a spine-tingling success for Ahoy Senor, a horse he cherished, provided the most special of tributes.

Peter Russell, who died aged 95 on Monday, was remembered for laying the foundations for his daughter to turn an ambition to train into a Grand National-winning reality and Ahoy Senor’s chances of adding the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup to her CV seemed realistic once again as he bounced back to form with a courageous win in the Paddy Power Cotswold Chase on Saturday.

Russell’s father was a part-owner of Ahoy Senor, too, and his huge influence even helped steer connections towards this venture south in a bid to resurrect any Gold Cup hopes. There was no doubting the class of the eight-year-old, as displayed in his second Grade 1 win at Aintree as a novice last season, but three moderate runs meant his odds for Cheltenham Festival glory had drifted to as big as 50-1.

Here he was transformed, with a professional jumping display on the whole but also with a significant punch of quality. Under Derek Fox he burst into contention on the turn for home, brushing aside Sounds Russian to strike by a length and a half. Last season’s Grand National winner Noble Yeats similarly motored home, but the Scottish challenger had already clinched it.

Ahoy Senor: clears a fence on the way to winning the Cotswold ChaseCredit: Alan Crowhurst

An emotional Russell was roared by the Cheltenham faithful into the winner’s enclosure and a smile was unavoidable as one eager racegoer shouted, ‘Lucinda, he’ll win the Gold Cup'. He is now as short as 10-1 to do so.

“It’s very emotional,” said Russell. “My dad was a fantastic person and he’d have been so proud. He’d been ill for a year and it was good because I spent a year saying thank you to him and goodbye. I appreciated him and as he went on in his life racing meant a lot to him, he used to talk to me about which races we were going for and phone me before and after. I’ll miss that intensely.

“Two weeks ago he asked, ‘How’s Ahoy Senor, is he going to go to Cheltenham?’ Dad wasn’t really a horseman or a racing man but this horse he was interested in and loved. He really wanted him to do well.”

By now a few tears were threatening to break from the eyes of this typically hardy Scotswoman. She added: “I’d say to everyone just say thank you to your dad and tell them how much they mean to you, because I had a chance to do that. I mean that, say thank you.

“It was Dad who set me up in this and gave me the desire and determination. He’d be very proud of me today, I’ll really miss not phoning him on the way home.”

For Russell and her team at Arlary House stables, situated between Perth and Edinburgh, this result was also a satisfying return to top form for a horse long considered the best they have had.

Yet Ahoy Senor’s efforts this season included two defeats when sent off favourite in the Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby in October and when returning to Aintree for the Many Clouds. He was last seen finishing fifth of nine and beaten a long way in the King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day.

“He’s been a fantastic horse and he was a freak as a novice chaser who did it on raw ability,” Russell added. “I think it was a bit of a shock to him to go into this company straight after his novice season. There’s no easy races at the top and it just took him a bit of time to get into it, but he’s learned now and he settles and jumps well.

“I’m surprised he acted on that ground but fair play to Bruce and Carron [Wymer, part-owners] as they said let’s go to Cheltenham as he has to get some practice at the track. He had some good practice today.”

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