No luck for the Irish as Exmoor takes Ascot feature Exmoor Ranger came out on top in a thrilling Grade 3, United House Gold Cup Handicap Chase at Ascot as the Irish raiders Muirhead and Bideford Legend flopped. The nine year old has been a frustrating horse to follow in recent seasons but Victor Dartnell's charge gained the big race victory that his ability deserved with a thrilling success. The gelding made his customary horlix about six from home but Andrew Glassonbury soon had his mount back on an even keel. However, the pair looked to be going the least well as they drew clear along with Razor Royale and Promising Anshan. The latter was the first to crack, hanging having jumped the last and it appeared as though Razor Royale was set to record another valuable handicap win only for Glassonbury to conjure another run out of his mount as he challenged between horses. The pair scored by a length with three quarters of a length back to the third whilst Golden Kite for Adrian Maguire fared best of a strong Irish challenge in a distant fourth. 2009 winner The Last Derby for Eoin Griffin and Eddie O'Connell finished sixth at 25/1 while Munster National hero Muirhead, for Noel Meade and Paul Carberry, finished eighth at 6/1. The 11/2 favourite Bideford Legend, trained by Charles Byrnes and ridden by Barry Geraghty, fell.
