RACING: Knight thrilled by bold Somersby (From Oxford Mail)

RACING: Knight thrilled by bold Somersby

6:17pm Tuesday 16th March 2010 in

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Henrietta Knight is to target next year’s Gold Cup with Somersby after her charge finished a gallant second in the Irish Independent Arkle Challenge Trophy at the Cheltenham Festival on Tuesday.

The six-year-old, from Knight’s West Lockinge stables, near Wantage, stayed on strongly under Robert Thornton to go down by three-quarters of a length to Sizing Europe and Andrew Lynch.

Knight said: “I shouldn't think he will do much more this year, but next year we will target him towards the Gold Cup.

“We just wanted the post a little further up the hill. He had a very good run, except for getting slightly close to one of the open ditches.

“But the winner ran in the Champion Hurdle and won the Irish Champion, so there was no disgrace whatsoever. This is very exciting for the future.”

Thornton added: “Sizing Europe won it with his gears down the hill and I stayed on.”

Winning trainer Henry De Bromhead said: “The roar when he passed the line was phenomenal.

“He ran with the choke out a bit today, but he is probably better that way than when he is put to sleep.”