OTHER SPORT

WELD SHOWS HIS METTLE AT ESHER

Like Hot Weld Tony McCoy has a tremendous appetite

Sunday April 29,2007

By Chris Goulding

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IF ever a horse deserved a rest it has to be Hot Weld, the hero in yesterday's Betfred Gold Cup at Sandown.

Seven days after taking the Scottish Grand National the old bruiser made history by becoming the first horse to do the double.

The last hurrah of the jump season must have seemed like a doddle for Hot Weld as he had three furlongs and three less fences to jump on the Esher slopes.

But unsurprisingly he was finding it hard work. However, after two miles he began to warm-up and his limitless stamina came into play.

Three fences from home, Tony McCoy and Reveillez, the 9-4 favourite, appeared to be going menacingly well but the grey's legs turned to jelly rounding the home turn.

This left Zabenz as the only challenger but he breasted the final fence and miraculously remained on his feet to take fifth place.

"Full credit to the horse," said winning rider Graham Lee. "He wasn't having it early on but his guts got up him back up to the head of affairs - it's happy days."

Without wishing to knock Lee's performance but the horse ran with considerably more enthusiasm for young Patrick McDonald when taking the Scottish National.

No doubt McDonald will have his day again but the youngster did not deserve to lose the ride.

The riding performance of the day went to Timmy Murphy on Dempsey in the Celebration Chase. Admittedly, Dempsey had the best credentials but he's never been an easy customer.

But Murphy made up his mind at the start. He was never headed and was a joy to watch as he flew over the unforgiving Sandown fences. On an afternoon when the jump jockeys shared the meeting with the Flat boys, it was Tony Mcoy who came out top when taking the Flat V Jump Jockeys Mile Handicap on Bold Diktator.

Like Hot Weld, McCoy has a tremendous appetite. Yesterday, he was crowned champion for an incredible twelfth time.