Post-Race Analysis:
Malvern, Pennsylvania - May 20, 2006: Top Of The Bill won the $75,000
Grade II National Hunt Cup at the Radnor Hunt Races defeating The
Next Man (Ire) by 1 1/2 lengths to take the final leg of the Steeplechase
Triple Crown. The winner covered the 2 3/8 miles over the W. Burling
Cocks Memorial racecourse that included 16 fences in 4:35.66.
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Top Of The Bill defeating The Next Man
at the finish of the National Hunt Cup.
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Quem Se Atreve (Brz), undefeated in two career starts over fences
and making his first start in a Steeplechase Triple Crown race,
took the early lead while tracked by Bon Fleur, The Next Man and
Ginz. Top Of The Bill, usually up or on the pace, was rated in behind
horses by his jockey Carl Rafter until asked for his best run about
a half mile from home. Meanwhile The Next Man, prominently placed
throughout as he tracked the early leaders, launched his move around
the final turn and made the lead at the top of the stretch. But
Top Of The Bill, who had moved into second place around the final
turn, found another gear on the long, uphill stretch run, gained
a short advantage over The Next Man at the final fence and then
accelerated away from his rival on the run-in to score by 1 1/2
lengths. It was another 11 1/2 lengths back to Ginz in third.
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Top Of The Bill (right) leads The Next
Man at the last fence of the National Hunt Cup.
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Randleston Farm's Top Of The Bill earned $45,000 with the victory
and stamped himself as this year's best novice hurdler. The 5-year-old
son of Lear Fan has racked up more than $100,000 in steeplechase
earnings while winning three times in five starts over fences. He
is trained by Jimmy Day.
"Today was the best he's ever jumped and I could tell that early
on," Day told the NSA. "He was comfortable and settled back off
the lead. It made a big difference for him. He's tough. He's got
a lot of qualities I like in a horse -- he's a good one."
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Bon Fleur leads (left-to-right) The Next
Man, Ginz and Good Night Shirt at the ninth fence of the National
Hunt Cup.
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Day credited the horse's ability to quicken out of a stalking gallop
in the 2-mile plus distances of jump races.
"He's got a speed level that he reaches that is comfortable for
him," said Day. "He can go a good pace and it's like nothing to
him, and then he can speed up out of it. He just likes it and I
think he's got to like what's going on at home too. Farm living
agrees with him."
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Quem Se Atreve leads (left-to-right)
The Next Man, Bulawayo, Bon Fleur, Ginz and Good Night Shirt
at the second fence of the National Hunt Cup.
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Top Of The Bill won once in 11 starts on the flat for his breeder
Gainsborough Farm before being purchased by Day as a steeplechase
prospect last summer. The gelding won his first steeplechase start
last fall and then captured the Grade II Carolina Cup in April.
In the Steeplechase Triple Crown's second leg, Top Of The Bill finished
second to South Of Fifty, but was disqualified and placed last for
interfering with The Next Man on the backside. However, Top Of The
Bill steered clear of trouble today and redeemed himself with an
impressive victory.
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Top Of The Bill, jockey Carl Rafter and
smiling groom after winning the Grade II National Hunt Cup.
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Day said Top Of The Bill would point for the Grade I New York Turf
Writers' Cup at Saratoga this summer.
The complete order of finish for the National Hunt Cup is set forth
below.
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Winning trainer Jimmy Day enjoyed sending
Top Of The Bill out to capture two-thirds of the this year's
Steeplechase Triple Crown.
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JUMPING AROUND: In other action at Radnor, Irv Naylor's Salmo (Robbie
Walsh) won the $40,000 Radnor Hunt Cup timber stakes for trainer
Jack Fisher, EMO Stable's Orison (Matt McCarron) won a $25,000 allowance
hurdle for Doug Fout, Augustin Stable's half-brothers Dynamite Flyer
(maiden hurdle) and South Monarch (maiden claiming hurdle) won for
Sanna Hendriks and Jody Petty, George and Sue Sensor's Corruption
(Rob Massey) won the claiming hurdle for Ricky Hendriks.
Edited from NSA press release.
Results:
|
PP
|
Horse
|
lbs
|
Jockey
|
Trainer
|
Owner
|
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1
|
Top Of The Bill |
151 |
Rafter |
James Day |
Randleston Farm |
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2
|
The Next Man (Ire) |
148 |
Massey |
Ricky Hendriks |
Barracudu Stable |
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3
|
Ginz (S) |
136 |
Murphy |
Thomas H. Voss |
Fitzhuh, LLC |
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4
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Quem Se Atreve (Brz) |
151 |
Young |
Jack Fisher |
Sarah Lyn Stable |
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5
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Good Night Shirt |
151 |
Aizpuru |
Jack Fisher |
Harold A. Via, Jr. |
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6
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Bulawayo |
148 |
Jeff Murphy |
Russell Carrier |
Gregory S. Bentley |
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PU
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Bon Fleur |
151 |
Hodsdon |
Jonathan Sheppard |
Marablue Farm |
| Scr |
Class Vantage |
136 |
|
Lilith Boucher |
Mede Cahaba Stable |
| Scr |
Orison |
136 |
|
Doug Fout |
EMO Stables |
back to top
Pedigree of Winner:
Click
here for Top Of The Bill's 5-cross pedigree.
Pedigrees compliments of Del
Mar Pedigree Query
Previous Winners:
| YEAR |
FIRST (Age) |
JOCKEY |
lbs. |
SECOND (Age) |
lbs. |
THIRD (Age) |
lbs. |
|
2005
|
Mixed Up (S) |
Hodsdon |
151 |
Charlie Whiskey |
148 |
Move West |
136 |
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2004
|
Racey Dreamer (5) |
McCarron |
151 |
Serazzo |
151 |
Sur La Tete |
154 |
|
2002
|
Anofferucantrefuse (5) |
Horgan |
151 |
McDynamo (6) |
154 |
Ethical Actions |
151 |
|
2001
|
Flasher (7) |
C. Miller |
154 |
Praise The Prince (NZ) (6) |
160 |
Golden Marvel (Fr) (5) |
148 |
|
2000
|
Pompeyo (Chi) (6) |
Brown |
148 |
Banjo Man (5) |
148 |
Shahrahere (5) |
145 |
|
1999
|
Grand Nord (5) |
Kiser |
148 |
Spring Salute (5) |
150 |
Moshe (6) |
148 |
|
1998
|
Lafitte The Pirate (5) |
Kingsley |
148 |
Darn That Erica (5) |
152 |
Maipo (5) |
152 |
|
1997
|
Batchwood (5) |
Clancy |
158 |
Soaringoverseattle (4) |
147 |
Dictador (7) |
158 |
Post-Race Analysis | Results
| Pedigree of Winner | Previous
Winners
