WKD KO for Samcro

The WKD Hurdle at Down Royal today produced a head-scratching result as ante-post Champion Hurdle favourite Samcro met with defeat to 12/1 shot Bedrock whose owners yesterday accepted an offer to sell.

The decision to keep Samcro to hurdles this season had been a talking point for months and last season's star novice today returned following a 189 day break.

Ridden by Jack Kennedy, six year old Samcro was quite weak in the market and while returned the 4/9 favourite (from 1/4 this morning), could only manage second place to Bedrock, under Rachael Blackmore, which swooped past both Samcro and early leader Sharjah from the second last to eventually win by a length and a half.

Galway Hurdle winner Sharjah, under Ruby Walsh, had race-fitness in his favour and while he made much of the running eventually faded to finish third, five lengths behind runner-up Samcro.

Bookmakers reacted to Samcro's defeat by pushing him to 9/2, from 5/2f for next March's Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham while dual Champion Buveur Dair has been shortened to 5/2 generally, having been a 7/2 chance yesterday.

The result of the race was even more surprising as Bedrock's co-owner Andrew Cook later explained “he is improving and I hate to tell you, we've sold him and he's off to the States! The deal was only done yesterday and I'm not sure of the details but his new owners are going to be very happy.

“I think he'll be aiming at the Grand National race they have at Far Hills, worth USD200,000. He is running so well now they could now keep him for the Fighting Fifth or Christmas Hurdle.”

Bedrock's trainer Iain Jardine will be represented by Nakeeta in Tuesday's Melbourne Cup and wasn't present at today's fixture and Cook added “it was a bit of a surprise. We hoped we'd come second (to Samcro) as we thought Sharjah would need softer ground but he was race-fit. We were hoping for second and he won on merit.

“He got left and got stuck at the start when fourth in the Galway Hurdle and had to come wide around the bends so could have been a lot closer that day. We couldn't believe he beat Samcro today!

“He has certainly gone out on a fantastic high for us and we couldn't be more pleased.”

Samcro's trainer Gordon Elliott later expressed his disappointment and said “I was happy with the way he travelled and jumped and I was happy going to the second last but he had a blow and got a bit tired.

“We're not making an excuse but I think we'll see a different horse the next day. None of my horses have been away on grass this year and speaking to the handicapper, he says he ran only two or three pounds below his best so for his first run of the season, that mightn't be too bad.

“He is going to have to improve an awful lot but the plan is for the Morgiana Hurdle next.”

Quotes from Michael Graham