Charlie Deutsch tipped the scales at 10st 2lb for the first time in almost a year before the December Gold Cup and the effort of getting down to his minimum weight proved highly worthwhile as the frontrunning Gemirande, at 11-2, held off the late challenge of Madara, the 11-4 favourite, to land the £71,000 first prize by a length.

Harry Skelton, aboard Madara, seemed poised to claim another valuable prize for his brother Dan’s stable as he turned for home on the heels of Gemirande with plenty of running left and they were in the air together at the last. Madara then moved to within a neck of the lead on the run-in, only for Gemirande to find more for Deutsch’s urging and edge away once more in the final strides.

Continue reading...