Racing: Old stager Church Island triumphs at Sandown for Hourigan

VETERAN Church Island defied his advancing years to create a 20-1 surprise in the Bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown as the curtain came down on the National Hunt season.

The 11-year-old stayed best of the 19 runners off a searing early pace to win for County Limerick trainer Michael Hourigan and young 7lb claimer Adrian Heskin.

Piraya set a very quick tempo early on and Heskin chose to take a prominent position, settling in second as the gallop started.

As Piraya just started to toil, Heskin took the initiative aboard Church Island with a mile to go as his rivals began to fall away.

Church Island was not stopping in front though and while Hoo La Baloo and former winner Lacdoudal tried to go with him, they had no answer as he cleared the last in style and powered away by six lengths.

Hoo La Baloo took second, with Lacdoudal three and three-quarter lengths away in third and 13-year-old Monkerhostin back in fourth.

Joint favourite The Package was putting in his best work at the end from a long way back to take fifth, while fellow 7-1 market leader Fairoak Lad was out of the frame.

It was another great result for Hourigan and Heskin, who had teamed up to great effect at the Cheltenham Festival with A New Story.

Heskin said: "Mr Hourigan has been very good to me and given me some great opportunities.

"All he does is stay and gallop and gallop. Turning in I thought we'd gone a bit mad but he pulled out more and is as tough as nails.

"He was a top-class horse as a novice and deserved a big one."