FULKE WALWYN KIM

MUIR CHALLENGE CUP

HANDICAP CHASE

FOR the first time in 30 years, a female jockey struck gold in Kim Muir as Gina Andrews teamed up with Domesday Book to spring a monumental upset.

At 40/1, the ex-Irish gelding, who is now under the care of Stuart Edmunds, became the joint longest-priced winner of a race first run in 1946. As she looked to emulate Gee Armytage’s victory on The Ellier in 1987, the experienced Gina Andrews had her mount in the front rank throughout and Domesday Book then led from some way out.

The Street Cry gelding looked held when Pendra moved past and opened up a clear lead jumping the last. A game Pendra was just running on empty in the closing stages and, as he drifted right, a rallying Domesday Book got up late on to succeed by three-parts of a length.

“It has been a lifetime ambition just to ride at the Festival let alone ride a winner here,” declared the winning rider.

“Jumping the last I didn’t think I’d win but he rallied again and he had the loose horse to help. Normally you are willing the line to come to you but I was willing it away this time.”

This was a first winner at the meeting for Buckinghamshire-based Edmunds, who enjoyed a notable triumph at this track last season with the very useful Wolf Of Windlesham.

The favourite, Squouateur, exited four fences from home when steadily creeping into contention, while Pat Kelly’s Mall Dini finished strongly to be beaten by less than four lengths into fifth.

The winning jockey was later hit with a 13-day suspension for using her whip above the permitted level and not giving her mount time to respond.