It was brilliant to see Credo and Gustavian finish first and second in the £38,000 Veterans Handicap Chase at Exeter on Sunday.
It came a day after our sprightly thirteen year old marvel Sam Brown ran another cracking race when fourth in the Grade 2 Denman Chase at Newbury.
Harry Cobden gave Credo a great patient, waiting ride at Exeter while Sam Twiston-Davies gave Gustavian an equally fine ride from the front.
Harry was brave and confident enough to let the race go early. There was so much pace on he just hunted her round at the rear for a circuit, let the others get on with it and didn’t try to get involved until the field turned for home.
At that stage the bold jumping Gustavian looked the most likely winner. But he is always a bit vulnerable to a strong finisher, landed awkwardly at the second last and couldn’t hold the late challenge of Credo who cruised through to lead at the final fence on the way to beating her stable companion by four and a half lengths.
Both horses have had a frustrating season having been winless for a long time but at least their handicap marks have been dropping a more realistic level.
Credo, who runs in the colours of the Potwell Racing syndicate 11, stays particularly well and comes from a really hardy family. Despite several hard races, she retains plenty of enthusiasm and deserved to get her head in front again wearing a visor for the first time.
I was very pleased, too, with Gustavian who had a fall at Sandown eight days earlier and deserves his own day in the sun.
Both are now qualified for the Veterans Chase Final at Sandown next January which we have won in the past with Sam Brown and Jepeck. Sam was also a close second in last month’s final switched to Market Rasen.
A rewarding afternoon for our team at Exeter ended with Catchintsavo finishing a highly promising second in the valuable bumper on his debut for us.
