Al Dancer produces ‘hell of a performance’ as he wins Wincanton’s big race at 25-1

AWESOME Al Dancer never missed a beat as he blew them away in the Badger Beers Chase.

The grey made all the running under a gung-ho ride from claimer Callum Pritchard who grinned: “I’d say the trainer was cursing me the whole way round!”

GettyAl Dancer made all the running to win the Badger Beers Chase at 25-1[/caption]

Sam Thomas admitted he might have used a few expletives as young Pritchard, 23, set fractions that wouldn’t have looked out of place on the Flat, let alone a three-mile chase.

But the popular 11-year-old is absolutely mustard on his day and managed to sustain the relentless gallop from start to finish in Wincanton’s big race.

To be honest, they were going such a ridiculous-looking pace early doors you wondered whether Pritchard had enjoyed a tipple of the sponsor’s finest before heading out to ride.

They were 30 lengths first to last by the time they’d raced barely half a mile, and 25-1 shot Al Dancer must have been quadruple his SP in-running on the exchanges.

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Clearly, Pritchard knew what he had underneath him and every time he asked Al Dancer for a big jump he responded in spectacular style.

He powered through the line 10 lengths clear of the favourite Lord Accord and Pritchard said: “I cannot believe that’s just happened. I’m speechless.

“He just jumps and travels and he was never out of his comfort zone. He’s a high-cruiser and he’s done it nicely in the end.

“He’s dynamite to ride, we went a strong pace but he was always going easily.”

Thomas added: “It looked like they were going hard and I was hoping he’d judged it right – thankfully he did.

“This is what we do it for, days like today. What a horse. He’s won first time out four or five times on the trot now and he’s 11. Every trainer needs a horse like this. What a performance.”

It was some performance, too, from Paul Nicholls.

The 14-time champion trainer has had a quiet few weeks, but his season exploded into life with a stunning 125-1 five-timer.

Beau Balko (9-2) was on target under Ben Bromley, while Harry Cobden did the steering on Sorceleur (2-9f), Larchmont Lass (11-4jf) and Swingin Safari (11-8f).

But Rubaud (11-10) was undoubtedly the star of the show as he fought off Brentford Hope by a length and a quarter in the Grade 2 Elite Hurdle.

He will now go novice chasing and a pumped up Nicholls said: “We always target this meeting, it’s our local track and it’s been a great day.

“A lot of ours have needed a run this year and we’ve just done things a little differently, but they clearly are in good nick.

“I was very pleased with Rubaud, he’ll go novice chasing now. I can’t wait to see him over fences.”

There were several eye-catching winners up at Aintree, too, including Jonjo O’Neill’s Mister Meggitt.

He bolted up by nearly five lengths in the opening novice hurdle and his legendary trainer reckons he’s the best horse he’s had in the yard since his Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Synchronised.

And King Turgeon jumped like a stag on his way to winning the Grand Sefton over the National fences for David Pipe.

Winning jock Jack Tudor said: “It was a great thrill to get my first winner over the Grand National fences. He jumped for fun and gave me a great spin.”