Neptune Novices Hurdle 2012 Race Results

One of the most hotly contested and anticipated races of the 2012 Cheltenham Festival, it was exciting and as fantastic as hoped. Run over 2m 5f, over 10 hurdles, the 17 runners lined up eagerly chomping at the bit for the £100,000 up for grabs in the prize fund.

From the off, race favourite Simonsig held is own towards the back of the middle pack but half way around with 5 fences to go he had moved nicely into 5th position and with three fences to go the drama started.

Cotton Mill took off like a bullet and was well on his way to seriously challenging for the win with Simonsig hot on his heels. Then on the second to last fence Cotton Mill, with Denis O’Regan on board, refused and unseated his rider leaving the course wide open for Simonsig who took off for home and gave trainer Nicky Henderson the win that now makes him the most successful trainer, at Cheltenham, in history!

1. Simonsig – Barry Geraghty 2/1
2. Felix Younger – Paul Townend 16/1
3. Monksland – Paul Carberry 11/2