Beau runs rivals into ground

Beau restored the faith held in him by his trainer when he romped to a record-breaking victory in the Whitbread Gold Cup at Sandown on Saturday.

The admirable young jumper thumped his rivals by a distance and more to record the longest winning margin in the 43-year history of the race.

Trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies had expected a performance like this in the William Hill Handicap Chase at Cheltenham when Beau was beaten by Marlborough.

"He got beaten at Cheltenham and I just couldn't believe it. I thought he was the best thing in the whole world," he said.

Beau (6 to 1 co-favourite) led from start to finish and ran and jumped with great zest throughout the testing three miles five and a half furlongs.

He had already stretched clear when his main pursuer Trouble Ahead refused at the third last.

Despite the soft ground Beau was not stopping and maintained a gallop all the way to the line under Carl Llewellyn.

Beau's task was made easier when Royal Predica, ridden by Tony McCoy, fell heavily. The top weight Young Kenny was also below par and was well out of contention when pulled up by Brendan Powell at the 13th.

Beau was registering his second big handicap victory of the season, having landed the Great Yorkshire Chase at Doncaster back in January.

Clive Brittain's Crimplene finished third in the Italian 1,000 Guineas, the Group Two Premio Regina Elena over a mile in Rome yesterday.

The Newmarket raider was beaten half-a-length and a length by local hopes, Xua and Timi, in the fillies' Classic at the Capannelle.