BANBRIDGE put another feather in Joseph O'Brien's cap by hunting down Il Est Francais for the Ladbrokes King George VI Chase.
Ireland's international training genius gave his 7-1 an unorthodox chance preparation on the road towards Kempton Park.
But the regular runner at intermediate distances stepped up to three miles and handed O'Brien his biggest win over jumps.
Banbridge soared over the last fence to collar the longtime French-trained leader, sparking celebrations for his 31-year-old handler and potato king Ronnie Bartlett.
O'Brien has prepared horses to conquer meetings like the Cheltenham Festival and Royal Ascot after landing the Derby twice as a jockey.
This story is from the December 27, 2024 edition of Daily Express.
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This story is from the December 27, 2024 edition of Daily Express.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
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