2012 result

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My Tent Or Yours Pitches Up in Betfair Hurdle
09/02/13

1 My Tent Or Yours 5/1F
2 Cotton Mill 9/1
3 Swing Bowler 8/1
4 Dark Lover 16/1
NR: Court Minstrel (IRE), Home Run (GER)
21 ran Distances: 5l, 1l, 2l
TIME 4m 10.70s (slow by 22.70s)

My Tent Or Yours took Newbury's Betfair Hurdle with an ease rarely witnessed in a major handicap to give a fortifying boost to owner JP McManus, trainer Nicky Henderson and jockey Tony McCoy, after a week laced with sadness.

My Tent Or Yours
Racehorse Photos

The team had been dealt crushing news on Monday when their Champion Hurdle hope Darlan, by coincidence a faller when looking the winner of this race 12 months ago, died at the final flight of a trial at Doncaster.

So impressive was the performance of the novice My Tent Or Yours, who carried the hopes of many as 5-1 favourite as he cruised five lengths clear of Cotton Mill, that speculation abounded that he could be supplemented for the Supreme Novices' and that would be the obvious one. I know JP has Jezki in the race, but it all comes down to JP.

"To lose one as we did - Darlan should have won this last year - but to find another one who looks as if he has the potential to go to the top is a big, big boost. It has been a difficult week and we've had to rally the troops and pick ourselves up.

"We've been amazed by the we've had. Nobody loves his horses more than JP, and AP was absolutely shattered. We all hoped Darlan was a Champion Hurdle horse. To find another that looks capable of going to the top table, there's a bit of justice in it."

McCoy, who rode a winner at Warwick earlier, said: "To win a handicap off 149 is a good performance. He's a good horse, I thought that the first day I sat on him. I schooled him and I said to Nicky there's only one thing wrong with this horse - he's in the wrong colours. I recommended to the boss to get him."

Betfair Hurdle (Grade 3 Handicap)
152,500 added, 4yo plus, 2m 110y, Class 1
21 ran
Going: Soft