Tag Archive for: Fugitif

Fugitif now fully primed for Cheltenham title defence

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Richard Hobson admitted it would “mean the world” if stable star Fugitif could become only the second horse to successfully defend the Nyetimber December Gold Cup on Saturday.

The nine-year-old enjoyed a titanic battle with Il Ridoto in last year’s renewal to land the prestigious Grade Three handicap by a short head on the New course at Cheltenham.

That pair will renew their rivalry again this weekend, after Paul Nicholls’ seven-year-old came out on top in the Paddy Power Gold Cup last month at Prestbury Park, which came two months after Fugitif had wind surgery.

Celebration time at Cheltenham last year for connections of Fugitif
Celebration time at Cheltenham last year for connections of Fugitif (Nigel French/PA)

Nicholls remains the only trainer since the race’s inception in 1963 to train the same horse to two victories in the extended two-and-a-half-mile feature, which started life as the Massey Ferguson Gold Cup.

Poquelin – the first and only horse to do so to date – recorded successive victories in 2009 and 2010 before Frodon entered the winner’s enclosure in 2016 and 2018.

Following his fifth-placed finish on his seasonal reappearance on the Old course, Hobson is optimistic Fugitif can retain his crown.

“He’s in good order. He’s where I want him to be,” the trainer said. “He was in need of that run because of the pure size of him.

“He’s a hard horse to get fit first time out in that quality of race and probably dropped himself out a bit far thinking his breathing was going to affect him.

Fugitif (white cap) renews rivalry with Il Ridoto (pink colours)
Fugitif (white cap) renews rivalry with Il Ridoto (pink colours) (Nigel French/PA)

“Now that he knows he can breathe again, he will go out there with a different frame of mind – and he has been at home, to be fair.

“What is the beauty of him on Saturday is that he will be meeting the likes of Il Ridoto fairly now, because he wasn’t for some time. He’s had some battles with him giving heaps of weight away.

“He’s got a chance off his current mark on what he’s performed at and what he’s achieved before.”

Hobson added: “It would mean the world. It means we can go and compete and do the job at the highest level against stables spending millions of pounds with a horse that cost €40,000.”

Jamie Snowden is confident Ga Law can support his “career-best” run in the Paddy Power Gold Cup with another strong showing on Saturday.

The eight-year-old was four and a half lengths behind Il Ridoto in second despite not being at his fluent best, which gives the Folly House handler reason for optimism of his charge securing a sixth win over fences.

Ga Law on his way to winning at Cheltenham in January
Ga Law on his way to winning at Cheltenham in January (Nigel French/PA)

“Ga Law is in great form. He ran a career-best in the Paddy Power, but the handicapper nudged him up a pound, which makes life a little bit trickier for him,” Snowden said.

“We had him in the Peterborough Chase, but obviously it rained so we didn’t declare for that. Touch wood, if it stays dry, this looks the right opportunity for him.

“He’s kind of betwixt and between, as he’s betwixt Grade Twos and these premier handicaps at the moment.

“It was obviously a very creditable run in the Paddy Power and if he can run to that level of form again, he shouldn’t be too far away.”

Madara was fourth in the Paddy Power on his stable debut and Dan Skelton feels switching from the Old course to the New one will aid his charge, who scored here for Sophie Leech last December.

Ladbrokes ambassador Skelton said: “He’s in good form right now – he ran well in the Paddy Power Gold Cup, but I think this track suits him better. He actually won around the new track last year, having got beat around the old track – so that’s only a positive.

Cheltenham Races – The Christmas Meeting – Saturday December 16th
Madara (right) and In Excelsis Deo at Cheltenham last season (Nigel French/PA).

“I know him a bit better now, as well, and how best to position him in the race, so I’ll have a good chat with Harry (Skelton) and try to get those tactics right. But, based on his form, he’s obviously got a chance.” 

In Excelsis Deo won over course and distance on his last completed race in April and gives Harry Fry hope of a first victory in the race.

Despite pulling up at Galway in July and unseating jockey Bryan Carver in the Paddy Power on his previous two starts, the Dorchester-based trainer believes the unfortunate mistake in the latter could work in his favour.

“He’s schooled really well since and this time we’ll be hoping for a clear round of jumping,” Fry told Grosvenor Sport.

“He looks to be facing plenty of familiar faces again and we think he’s got a fantastic chance looking at the final field.

“Who knows, him not completing at the track on his last outing might mean he didn’t have such a hard race as the others reopposing here, and that might just be a little blessing in disguise.”



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Hobson certain further glory will not elude Fugitif

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Richard Hobson remains confident last year’s December Gold Cup hero Fugitif is capable of picking up another big prize, especially after receiving a bit of help from the handicapper.

The Gloucestershire handler has not yet fully committed the nine-year-old to defending his title at Cheltenham on Saturday week, but reports him in good health following a Paddy Power Gold Cup fifth behind old rival Il Ridoto on his seasonal reappearance.

Fugitif was fourth in the same race last season before going on to strike gold a month later off a mark of 151. He was raised 6lb for that success, but is now back down to 150.

Hobson said: “We’re not sure yet whether to go there or wait for January 1, but we’ll confirm on Monday and go from there, I guess.

Cheltenham Races – The Christmas Meeting – Saturday December 16th
Connections celebrate winning the December Gold Cup with Fugitif (Nigel French/PA).

“He just got left a little bit at the start again, so he had to make up all that ground and a bit like most of ours, he might have just needed the run.

“Trying to get a horse of his size and stature ready first time out is quite a hard task, especially as it was a very competitive, big Saturday afternoon race.

“He was a bit more ready last year for the Paddy Power, but cheekpieces lit him up and that’s why he was probably only fourth. I know he was actually beaten less this year, but he overraced last year.

“But the run is going to bring him on massively and he’s got a couple of pounds back in hand and he won’t meet Il Ridoto on the same mark anymore.

“We’ve just been completely up against it against him constantly because we’ve been giving stacks of weight away every time, but now he’s been put up seven and we’ve been dropped two, so we’re starting to meet him on more of a level playing field.

“He’s a big old unit and there’ll be another big race in him soon hopefully, whether that’s defending his title a week on Saturday or further down the line.”

Hobson was also happy to get Some Scope back on track with a fourth-placed finish in the Rehearsal Chase at Newcastle after he was pulled up at Cheltenham in October.

The six-year-old landed a Catterick and Doncaster double last winter before finishing a fine second in the Grimthorpe on Town Moor.

Reflecting on Saturday’s effort, Hobson said: “It was his first proper run of the season and he blew quite hard, as you can imagine because they went so fast.

“I would say that will put him spot on now for the Rowland Meyrick (at Wetherby) on Boxing Day and then whether we go back for the Grimthorpe again or if he has a race in between, we’ll see. The better the ground, the better it is for him.”



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Hobson ‘can’t wait’ to unleash Fugitif at Cheltenham

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Richard Hobson reports Cheltenham regular Fugitif in fine spirits ahead of returning to Prestbury Park for the Paddy Power Gold Cup.

The nine-year-old was fourth behind Stage Star in last season’s renewal before going on to secure a thrilling success in the December Gold Cup.

He also ran with great credit when third in January’s Clarence House Chase, but Hobson feels those exertions took their toll prior to being pulled up in the Ryanair and at Aintree.

Cheltenham Races – The Christmas Meeting – Saturday December 16th
Fugitif and connections after the December Gold Cup (Nigel French/PA).

However, following a summer break, Fugitif is back on song and set for another crack at Paddy Power Gold Cup glory on November 16.

Hobson said: “It’s all set for him to go for that. He’s in good order, it’s all good with Fugitif and we can’t wait.

“He had a really hard race in the Clarence House, which was really just to sharpen him up for the Festival, but he ended up leaving his race there and probably the win in the December Gold Cup.

“So we gave him a long break and freshened him up and we’re looking forward to getting him going again.

“He loves Cheltenham, he was maybe just sick of Cheltenham by March, but he’s a happy horse at the moment.”

Fugitif was runner-up in a trio of high-profile handicaps at Cheltenham two seasons ago, including the Plate at the 2023 Festival.

He finally hit the target there last December by coming from a long way back to pip old rival Il Ridoto on the line, but Robson would rather avoid using the same hold-up tactics again.

He added: “We’ve tinkered with a few things really, because dropping him out like that isn’t what he’s really about.

“I think we’ve sorted that problem now and we’ll hopefully see a different horse to what you saw towards the back end of last season.”

Stablemate Some Scope is prominent in the ante-post betting for the Boylesports Grand Sefton Handicap Chase at Aintree on November 9 but is set to sidestep that race after being pulled up at Cheltenham on his seasonal reappearance.

“He’s had a couple of issues since his race the other day and will be kept on a lower key for his next run,” said Hobson.

“He pulled some muscles badly at the second jump at Cheltenham and it was sort of game over from there really.”



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Hobson mulling Cheltenham and Lingfield choices for Fugitif

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Fugitif has two options before a likely crack at the Ryanair Trophy in March.

Trainer Richard Hobson is weighing up whether to send him to Cheltenham on January 27 for Trials Day, or run a week earlier in Lingfield’s Fleur de Lys Chase.

Fourth in the Paddy Power Gold Cup in November, he finally broke Hobson’s duck at the track in the December Gold Cup.

It was perhaps fitting Fugitif was the one to give Hobson his first winner at Cheltenham given he has run so many good races there, including when second to Seddon in the Plate at last year’s Festival.

“He did his first couple of swinging canters the other day since winning at Cheltenham. He had a week off after that win but he is extremely well,” said Hobson.

Winning connections of Fugitif after the December Gold Cup
Winning connections of Fugitif after the December Gold Cup (Nigel French/PA)

“He will aim for either the extended two-and-a-half-mile Premier Handicap at Cheltenham on Trials Day (Paddy Power Cheltenham Countdown Podcast Handicap Chase) or the Fleur de Lys Chase at Lingfield.

“I had no intention of running him at the Christmas meeting at Cheltenham as we always felt he needed time between his races, but he came out of the Paddy Power Gold Cup so well and he was showing all the right signs that we decided to give the December Gold Cup a go.

“When I got my trainer’s licence, there were three things I said to my wife that I wanted to do. I wanted to train a big winner at Auteuil’s festival, train a big winner at Aintree, which we did with Dame Rose, and to train a winner at Cheltenham and that one took a bit longer than we liked, what with all the seconds we had before Fugitif won.

“We had so many hard luck stories at Cheltenham, it was nice to finally see one get their head in front.

“He is in the Ryanair and that is likely to be his main target for the season. He will be put in the Plate as well, but carrying big weights in those handicaps is a hard thing to do. If he was to place in the Ryanair, it would be a great result.”



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Fugitif swoops late in December Gold Cup thriller

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Fugitif came from the clouds to secure a last-gasp victory in a thrilling renewal of the Virgin Bet December Gold Cup at Cheltenham.

A field of 12 runners went to post for the prestigious handicap, although for much of the way it looked a two-horse race, with Il Ridoto and Bryony Frost and the Charlie Deutsch-ridden Frero Banbou going hammer and tongs on the front end and pulling clear of the chasing pack.

It was obvious from the fourth-last fence that several of those in behind were struggling to keep up with the furious gallop being set, with 3-1 favourite Thunder Rock one of the first to cry enough before eventually being pulled up.

Il Ridoto and Frero Banbou were still locking horns in front rounding the home turn, at which stage Richard Hobson’s Fugitif still had six horses in front of him and seemingly a mountain to climb in the hands of Gavin Sheehan.

Fugitif (left) chases down Il Ridoto at Cheltenham
Fugitif (left) chases down Il Ridoto at Cheltenham (Nigel French/PA)

After eventually seeing off his long-time challenger, Il Ridoto looked the most likely winner between the final two obstacles.

However, Sheehan – who two weeks ago produced a similarly ice cool masterclass to land Newbury’s Coral Gold Cup aboard Datsalrightgino – conjured a late surge from Fugitif and the pair got up in the very last stride to score by a short head at 13-2.

Hobson said: “He was quite far back, but we had a top jockey on and we got there in the end. The plan wasn’t to be that far back, but he has ridden a lovely race on him. The ground was really dead and tiring and he has timed it to perfection.

“They keep climbing the handicap when they finish second, so to come here and carry a big weight like he has done today, it is just a fabulous performance by the horse.”

Gavin Sheehan and connections celebrate Fugitif's success
Gavin Sheehan and connections celebrate Fugitif’s success (Nigel French/PA)

On saddling his first ever winner at Cheltenham, the trainer added: “It is incredible. I’ve had 11 seconds and you think is it ever going to happen, albeit we have been running at the top end.

“We haven’t been coming here with a well-handicapped horse, we have been trying to punch above our weight and it has just taken its time, but we have got there in the end.

“I hoped this horse would get his day in the sun. There is a conditions race at Lingfield, the Fleur De Lys, so we might go for that. It is on January 21, which is my birthday, and we might go there.”



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Hobson has Cheltenham return on Fugitif’s radar

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Fugitif could return to Cheltenham next month for the Virgin Bet December Gold Cup Handicap Chase having been in the mix once again at Prestbury Park in the Paddy Power-sponsored equivalent.

Richard Hobson’s eight-year-old is a regular competitor at Cheltenham and was sent off a 12-1 chance for his seasonal reappearance in the hands of Gavin Sheehan last weekend, a race that was ultimately won by Stage Star, with Fugitif finishing 16 lengths adrift in fourth.

However, there was plenty of encouragement to take from Fugitif’s performance as he matched strides with the winner coming down the hill and rounding the turn for home before his early exuberance in first-time cheekpieces took its toll on the lung-busting run for home.

Fugitif in action at Chepstow last year
Fugitif in action at Chepstow last year (David Davies/PA)

Although having to settle for minor honours, Hobson is hopeful there is more to come on his next start now his charge has a run under his belt.

“He’s in good order,” said the trainer.

“Something jumped into him at the water jump and it was the only jump he got wrong. He was a bit sore on the behind fetlock for a few days but he’s absolutely A1 now.

“Because he is such a big horse, it normally takes him four or five weeks to come out of his run, but fitness wise he will probably come on for the run. He was too keen and too free, he never settled really.

“I probably shouldn’t have put cheekpieces on him first time out. Gavin was saying he was sort of struggling to keep a lid on him. So it was probably trainer error on that front and hoping he might get some cover, as I thought he might be like that if he was handy enough. He jumped his way to the front with a circuit to run.

“He just got lit up a bit and didn’t run with the choke out, but was just doing too much for a horse having a comeback run compared to the second and third horses which were completely switched off.

“He was bang there alongside Stage Star at the top of the hill and still tanking down the hill.”

Hobson is now looking forward to a potential return to Cheltenham’s New course where Fugitif has an excellent record having finished second on both Festival Trials Day and at the Festival itself earlier in the year.

Fugitif jumps the last alongside eventual winner Seddon at the Cheltenham Festival
Fugitif jumps the last alongside eventual winner Seddon at the Cheltenham Festival (Tim Goode/PA)

If recovering sufficiently from his recent exertions, Fugitif could bid to make it third time lucky on the track in the £130,000 feature of the track’s December meeting, while a similar event worth £100,000 on New Year’s Day (Paddy Power New Year’s Day Handicap Chase) is also in the equation along with a trip to Ascot for the Howden Handicap Chase on December 23.

Hobson continued: “There is December on the New course which probably suits him better – that second last comes up a bit sharp on him for such a big horse (on the Old course) – and then there is January 1 as well. The one in December is more valuable and you can also throw Ascot into the mix.

“We’ve been dropped 2lb, the runner-up (Notlongtillmay) has gone up 6lb and he had the benefit of a run, the winner is a Grade One horse and we won’t be meeting him again and we’ve beaten the third (Il Ridoto) before, so on that note I would say it puts us in good stead next time if I pick the right race for him.

“I’ve just got to make sure I keep him healthy and right and don’t over run him and hopefully he will win a big pot somewhere.”



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Fugitif ‘spot-on’ for Paddy Power challenge

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Trainer Richard Hobson is confident he has his stable star Fugitif “spot-on” for Saturday’s Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham.

The eight-year-old may have only managed a solitary victory in testing conditions at Chepstow last season, but he did also finish second three times at Prestbury Park, including when chasing home Seddon at the Festival in March.

Fugitif will make his reappearance 22lb higher in the weights than when filling the runner-up spot at this meeting 12 months ago, but Hobson believes he is better than ever and did not feel it necessary to give him a prep run ahead of his latest bid for big-race glory.

He said: “Fugitif is in good shape. He’ll have his final bit of work tomorrow (Tuesday), he’ll have a pop (over fences) on Thursday and as long as that all goes smoothly we’re all set for Saturday.

“We decided we’d go straight there. I was thinking he was going to get there too soon fitness-wise, but actually he’ll just be spot-on.

“He ran lovely over two miles first time out last season and wouldn’t have been as fit as he is this time round, but he’s gone up a few pounds since then.”

On the prospect of potentially encountering testing conditions this weekend, Hobson added: “The wetter the better for him – you saw him at Chepstow last year. I think it’s just going to be nice, soft ground and that will be fine.

“He’s a strong horse and not far off 18 hands. He’s a weight carrier, he’s improved through the summer and he’s got a beautiful weight (11st 5lb) – I could nearly ride him myself!”

Stage Star on his way to victory at the Cheltenham Festival
Stage Star on his way to victory at the Cheltenham Festival (Tim Goode/PA)

Fugitif is one of 17 horses in contention for the Paddy Power Gold Cup following Monday’s confirmation stage, with ante-post favourite Stage Star and top-weight The Real Whacker also still in the mix.

Stage Star won twice at Cheltenham last term, including the Turners Novices’ Chase at the Festival, and he is well fancied to provide champion trainer Paul Nicholls with a third victory in this weekend’s feature handicap following the previous triumphs of Al Ferof (2012) and Caid Du Berlais (2014).

The Real Whacker is also a Festival hero, having edged out Gerri Colombe in a thrilling Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase in March, taking his course record to three from three over fences for Patrick Neville.

The seven-year-old will, though, have to concede upwards of 7lb to each of his rivals on Saturday under the welter burden of 12 stone.

Dan Skelton will have high hopes for Unexpected Party, who unlike many of his major rivals does have the benefit of a recent run, having made an impressive return at Chepstow last month.

Laura Morgan’s pair of Notlongtillmay and Whistleinthedark, the Sam Thomas-trained Angels Breath and Authorized Art from the Willie Mullins yard have also stood their ground.



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Fugitif gunning for Paddy Power glory

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Fugitif is on course to reappear in the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham on November 18.

The Richard Hobson-trained eight-year-old improved markedly last season, beginning the campaign rated 131 and ending it with a mark of 153.

Having finished second at Cheltenham both on Trials Day and at the Festival in March, Hobson has no concerns over the course or distance, and is just hoping Fugitif gets his favoured soft ground.

“We’re all on course for the Paddy Power,” said Hobson. “We know he likes the course and distance and if he gets his ground he could be very dangerous.

“He wasn’t right at the end of the season when he ran at Aintree so we can safely put a line through that run, but prior to that he’d been very progressive.

“He’s 17:2hh so with another summer on his back you can only imagine how much he has strengthened up.

“He does need a cut in the ground, you saw last year at Chepstow when he won it was very soft that day and he loved it, he never came off the bridle.

“I think the middle distance at Cheltenham is right up his street myself, but I did put him in the King George because if he wins the Paddy Power it’s a flat three miles and on his pedigree who should get it. It’s only an early entry, though.”



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Big-race success firmly in Fugitif’s sights

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Richard Hobson believes the best is yet to come from Fugitif following his brave second at Cheltenham on Festival Trials Day.

An emphatic winner at Chepstow on his penultimate start, he was sent off the 7-2 favourite for the Paddy Power Cheltenham Countdown Podcast Handicap Chase at Prestbury Park and justified those odds to run a fine race for the silver medal.

He was just one length adrift of winner Il Ridoto at the line after the two were embroiled in a titanic tussle all the way from the home turn and up the Cheltenham hill to the winning post – with the duo some 16 lengths clear of Precious Eleanor in third.

Up 6lb for that effort to a mark of 149, Hobson is now excited to see how far the eight-year-old can rise through the ranks and is relishing the prospect of stepping Fugitif up to three miles next season.

He said: “He went there in great order and he was flat to the boards the whole way which suggests one day he is going to get further and stepping up in trip next year will be absolutely key for him.

“The ground wasn’t for him at Cheltenham, I was concerned about the ground and it was nearly riding good ground on the day. As you know from his Chepstow performance, the wetter the better helps him a bit.

Fugitif ridden by Gavin Sheehan clears a fence before going on to win the Coral Get Closer To The Action Handicap Chase on Coral Welsh Grand National day at Chepstow
Fugitif ridden by Gavin Sheehan clears a fence before going on to win the Coral Get Closer To The Action Handicap Chase on Coral Welsh Grand National day at Chepstow (David Davies/PA)

“He was bucking round the paddock and you just knew if he was first, second, third or fourth he would run a big race. But if he has those key factors in his favour – i.e. soft ground so he can just travel a bit more in his comfort zone – then he is going to be very, very dangerous moving forward given those conditions.

“I said he was a Saturday afternoon horse two years ago and he’s definitely a graded horse on that performance.”

He went on: “If he does have the stamina I think he has – with that huge action of his and with the way he can jump and get himself into a two-and-a-half-mile race, imagine how dangerous he could be over three miles when getting a breather the whole way.

“He didn’t half put it up to a quick horse the other day and at this stage it is just exciting to be where we are. Hopefully we can enjoy a big race success somewhere before the end of the season.”



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Fugitif camp weighing up Lingfield and Ascot possibilities

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Richard Hobson’s Fugitif has a Grade One Ascot option after his taking Chepstow success.

The eight-year-old was an impressive winner of the Coral Get Closer To The Action Handicap Chase on December 27, scoring on soft ground by a ready five lengths.

The performance followed a good earlier run at Cheltenham in November, where the gelding was second behind Amarillo Sky in a two-mile handicap chase.

“He’s flying, it was a very good race, very competitive,” Hobson said of the Chepstow win.

“There were good horses in there and the way he did it was just awesome.

Fugitif at Chepstow
Fugitif at Chepstow (David Davies/PA)

“I was really pleased with him. He loved those conditions and they are key to him – he has a big action that eats up that ground and that did go in his favour.”

Lifted 10lb in the handicap after the Chepstow victory, Fugitif is now rated 143 and is likely to head to either the Lingfield Winter Million meeting for the racehorselotto.com Handicap Chase or to Ascot for the Clarence House – a Grade One contest.

“He has Lingfield on January 20 and he’s in the Clarence House as well on the 21st, that could be a possibility if it came up really soft,” said Hobson.

“The long-term plan, if he were to go to Cheltenham, would be something like the Plate over two and a half (miles) – that’d be right up his street.”

Hobson also has a few dates in the diary for Lord Du Mesnil, who was last seen finishing second behind subsequent Coral Gold Cup winner Le Milos in a Bangor handicap chase in November.

The Classic Chase at Warwick is next on his agenda, with the Eider at Newcastle the following month also a definite target for the gelding, who won the Grade Three Grand National Trial at Haydock in 2021.

“He runs in the Warwick chase a week on Saturday,” said Hobson.

“He’s in good order, he’ll run there but his main objective this year will be going to the Eider Chase.

“He might just get run off his feet in that chase at Warwick over three-mile-five (furlongs), they go pretty quick, but he’ll definitely run in the Eider.”



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