Son Of Flicka lands Coral Cup gamble

Son Of Flicka gave Donald McCain and Jason Maguire a second winner of the week when landing the Coral Cup at 16/1.

The eight-year-old, second at the festival 12 months ago, followed stablemate Cinders And Ashes into the winners enclosure when going one better in the 28-runner handicap.

Maguire gave the winner a similarly nerveless ride as he did 24 hours earlier, hugging the rails all the way before delivering his challenge at the second last.

The well-backed Balgarry (6/1) was asked to make all the running by Tom Scudamore but the writing was on the wall on landing flat-footed two out.

Son Of Flicka quickly emerged as the one to beat and although top weight Get Me Out Of Here (6/1jf) challenged under Tony McCoy, Maguire's mount stayed on strongly to win by three-and-a-half lengths.

Get Me Out Of Here finished second for a third successive year with veiled and Silverhand (both 25s) filling the minor berths.

McCain said: "He's a tough nut to crack this horse. I've had him since he was a three-year-old and he never gives up.

"He's gone up and up in the weights without winning and he's deserved a big one.

"You keep shaking your head at the meeting, but we're lucky to have a yard full of good horses and good owners, and I've got a jockey who is riding as well as anyone in the country."

Get Me Out Of Here's trainer, Jonjo O'Neill, said: "He's a great horse and we all knew how hard it was going to be with that weight.

"He's been second three years in a row now and I wouldn't mind if he came back next year and was second again.

"He'll go to Liverpool (Aintree) now and run at level weights over two and a half miles, so we'll see how he gets on.

"I'd love to try him over fences, but his problems just make it difficult for him."