Gordon Elliott claimed a seventh winner at The Festival 2020 when Chosen Mate took the G3 Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Handicap Chase under Davy Russell. The seven-year-old was the 7/2 favourite, and beat Éclair De Beaufeu – also trained by Elliott – by a length and three-quarters. Elliott said: “It’s very nice to get this trophy – Nicky Henderson [after whose father the race is named] is one of the people you look up to, and I’ve got an awful lot of respect for him. “Look, we’ve had seven winners and second winners – and four thirds – with one race to go. Whatever happens, we’ve had a brilliant week. It’s unbelievable. Both Davy and Sean have given the horses great rides. I’m very lucky to have Davy Russell and Jack Kennedy riding for me – Jack has missed out on a few this week. We’ve had a great week for a lot of different owners. “I said the day before that the most important thing with this race was the first four fences. If we could get him over the first four fences in a rhythm, he could win. Thankfully he won.”
Chosen Mate is owned by the Northern Four Racing Partnership, comprising David Sharp, Sandro di Michaelis, Mick Conway and Mark Aspinall. They said: “We know he was a great horse. He was a good hurdler and the plan was always chasing. It all clicked at Gowran a few weeks ago on heavy ground, which we didn’t think he liked, and today he was favourite. He travelled lovely through the race and the rest is history. “This is our first horse with Gordon. We’ve got another, a juvenile hurdler. Gordon and Davy are great. He’s a top man. I’ve just promised him a trip to Barbados if he won this race! “Wow, what a performance that was. Davy gave him a wonderful ride; held him up nicely. This is a class horse to have treated that field with such disdain. If Aintree goes head, then Chosen Mate has got to be in the argument.”
4.50pm Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Handicap Chase (Grade 3)
1 Chosen Mate (The Northern Four Racing Partnership) Gordon Elliott IRE 7-11-04 Davy Russell 7/2f
2 Éclair de Beaufeu (Gigginstown House Stud) Gordon Elliott IRE 6-11-06 Sean O’Keeffe (5) 13/2
3 Us And Them (Burnham P & D Ltd) Joseph O’Brien IRE 7-11-05 J J Slevin 10/1
4 Greaneteen (Chris Giles) Paul Nicholls 6-11-07 Harry Cobden 5/1
18 ran Distances: 1¾, 3½, nk Tote Win: £3.50 Place: £1.60, £1.90, £2.70, £1.90 Exacta: £20.30
Gordon Elliott – 32nd winner at The Festival
Davy Russell – 25th winner at The Festival
