Full Result 2.10 Exeter | 17 December 1998

Richard Merton Happy Retirement Handicap Chase Class D Showcase Race

(Class 3) (0-125, 5yo+) 3m2f OMS Soft 19 fences

1st £5,034.50 2nd £1,511 3rd £728 4th £336.50

Pos. (Draw)	Horse / SP Trainer / Jockey	Jockey Trainer	Age	WGT	OR	TS	RPR	MR
1	4. Royal Barge 4/1 R Dunwoody Peter Bowen	R Dunwoody Peter Bowen	8	1010	105	–	120	–
b g Nearly A Hand - April Airs (Grey Mirage I)
Tracked leaders, led 10th, stayed on well when challenged from 4 out, ran on well approaching last (op 7-2 tchd 9-2)

2 3	7. Saxon Duke 9/2 Mr R Widger ⁵ Philip Hobbs	Mr R Widger ⁵ Philip Hobbs	7	910 1	96	–	108	–
b g Saxon Farm - Bucks Princess (Buckskin)
Held up in rear, headway 9th, hit next, chased leaders 12th, challenged from 4 out, until outpaced after 2 out (op 4-1 tchd 5-1)

3 1½ [4½]	1. Flaked Oats 7/2 Joe Tizzard Paul Nicholls	Joe Tizzard Paul Nicholls	9	1113	122	–	133	–
b g Oats - Polly Toodle (Kabale)
Behind until headway 12th, stayed on from 3 out, chased leaders approaching last, soon outpaced (op 5-2 tchd 4-1)

4 dist [34½]	2. Palosanto (IRE) 11/1 C Maude M C Pipe	C Maude M C Pipe	8	111	110	–	–	–
b g Torus - Winterwood (Bargello)
In touch when blundered 4th, ridden 7th, headway 12th, weakened 15th (op 8-1 tchd 12-1, 14-1 in a place)

F	10. Otter River 100/1 S Burrough O J Carter	S Burrough O J Carter	9	104 4 23	99	–	–	–
ch g Celtic Cone - Ottery News (Pony Express)
Chased leaders, in touch when fell 8th (op 50-1)

PU	8. Rocky ParkI 11/1 Adrian Maguire G B Balding	Adrian Maguire G B Balding	12	100	95	–	–	–
ch g Derrylin - Songe D'Inde (Sheshoon)
Led to 8th, challenged 9th, hit 14th and behind, tailed off when pulled up after 4 out (op 8-1 tchd 12-1 in places)

PU	5. Hold Your Ranks 20/1 J Frost R G Frost	J Frost R G Frost	11	105	100	–	–	–
b g Ranksborough - Holdmetight (New Brig)
Behind, some headway 15th, weakened approaching 4 out, no chance when weakened, pulled up and dismounted before last (op 10-1)

PU	9. Robsand (IRE) 50/1 B Clifford G B Balding	B Clifford G B Balding	9	100 12	95	–	–	–
b g Sandalay - Remindful (Bargello)
Soon behind, tailed off when pulled up before 14th (op 33-1)

PU	3. Scotby (BEL) 3/1F B Powell Snr Bob Buckler	B Powell Snr Bob Buckler	8	1013	108	–	–	–
gr g Scottish Reel II (IRE) - Two Seasons (Martinmas)
Chased leaders, hit 5th, blundered 11th, ridden to stay chasing leaders 15th, weakened approaching 4 out, tailed off when pulled up before next (op 4-1)

PU	6. Steel Moss (IRE) 7/1 A P McCoy C R Barwell	A P McCoy C R Barwell	9	105	100	–	–	–
ch g Le Moss (IRE) - Iron Star (General Ironside)
With leaders, challenged 7th, led next, headed 10th, stayed with winner until weakened 15th, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out (op 11-2)

10 ran Off time: 2:13:00 Winning time: 6m 53.00s (slow by 41.00s) Total SP: 123%
1st owner: E L Harries (Royal Barge) 1st breeder: Mrs B D Harries
2nd owner: Saxon Duke Partnership (Saxon Duke)
3rd owner: Exors Of The Late Mr E B Swaffield (Flaked Oats)
Tote win: £5.80 PL: £1.70 £1.90 £2.20 Ex: £11.70 CSF: £21.79 Tricast: £64.77 Trifecta: £69.30 Pool: £5,407.26. 55.38 winning tickets

2:10 Exeter 17 Dec 1998

Richard Merton Happy Retirement Handicap Chase Class D Showcase Race