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Lucinda’s victory for father Peter

By Marcus Townend RACING CORRESPONDENT

AHOY SENOR delivered an emotional victory for trainer Lucinda Russell in the week her father Peter died with a length-and-a-half win in the Paddy Power Cotswold Chase at Cheltenham which resurrected his Gold Cup hopes.

Russell, who died on Monday aged 95, backed his Grand National-winning daughter’s training career. He was a part-owner of 13-2 shot Ahoy Senor and closely followed the career of the chaser right up to the end of his life.

Three below-par runs this season had put a question mark against Derek Fox-ridden two-time Grade One winner but he bounced back to his best with a resolute win from Sounds Russian which saw his Gold Cup odds cut to 10-1.

Understandably, Russell’s thoughts were with her late father. She said: ‘It’s very emotional. As he got older racing meant a lot to him. He would always talk to me about which races we were going for and we would speak before and after. I will miss that intensely.

‘Two weeks ago he said, “How’s Ahoy Senor? Will he go to Cheltenham?’’ He wasn’t a horseman but he was interested in this horse.

‘He only went to hospital for 24 hours. It was great that I had a chance to say thank you because it was dad who set me up and it was dad who gave me that desire and determination. He would be very proud of me today.

‘I am going to miss not phoning him on the way home.’

Six Nations Countdown

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2023-01-29T08:00:00.0000000Z

2023-01-29T08:00:00.0000000Z

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