Wonderful Withhold lands monster gamble with 'demolition job'

Withhold, carrying the colours of Brighton football club chairman Tony Bloom, landed a Betfred Cesarewitch gamble in spectacular style.

Bloom has landed countless successful gambles from his time at the poker tables and across the football world but the legendary punter seemingly played a cagey game in setting up the latest sting with a horse he bought for 170,000gns a year ago.

One race later - just 21 days ago with his handicap mark of 87 protected - Withhold was ready to strike in one of the hardest handicaps of the year with champion elect Silvestre de Sousa the final piece in the puzzle.

Punters tightened the noose from the morning price of 12-1 into 5-1 favourite at the off and Withhold kept nothing back in an exuberant and ultimately runaway success to break the course record that had stood for 70 years.

Silvestre de Sousa, who had worked the oracle from stall 23 to win the race last year, repeated the feat from one wider getting Withhold out smartly and across to hit the turn in second.

James Doyle made an audacious move to the stands' side early in the straight and de Sousa, feeling Withhold idling in front up the middle, moved over to join and momentarily cross the eventual runner-up.Even winning trainer Roger Charlton was taken aback by the style of the success from a horse he had insisted was gelded after arriving from the sales and had brought to a peak in his understated fashion.

"I hoped he would win but it doesn't normally work," said the Beckhampton trainer. "But I didn't expect him to win that well - he would have gone on another few furlongs. It was a demolition job, really.

"The only doubt I had was when the horse started to idle a bit but Silvestre came across to the stands' rail for company - then it was all over."

That it certainly was as the four-year-old galloped clear to beat London Prize three and three-quarter lengths with another five lengths back to Lagostovegas in third as the 34-runner handicap was turned into a procession.

Referring to the plan coming together, Charlton added: "I was very lucky. Some good judges decided that this was the horse to be bought from the horses-in-training sales. He had a lovely break during the winter."

Race result and analysis

If you are interested in this, you should read:

Silvestre up to speed: stats and facts for the last three months in Britain

Steve Dennis: why don't the trumpets sound for De Sousa?

Runaway title leader De Sousa brings up century