Longsdon full of praise for Pendra's brave run at Cheltenham

Chipping Norton trainer Charlie Longsdon was full of praise for Pendra following his run in the Cheltenham Festival.
Charlie Longsdon with Pendra and work rider Neli LewisCharlie Longsdon with Pendra and work rider Neli Lewis
Charlie Longsdon with Pendra and work rider Neli Lewis

Pendra was pipped on the run-in by Domesday Book in Thursday’s concluding race, the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Amateur Riders Handicap Chase.

The nine-year-old, owned by JP McManus, was having his first run since last year’s Crabbie’s Grand National.

The Hull Farm handler said: “Pendra ran the race of his life. For a horse that had been off for almost a year and then back in October spent the whole month at the vets with pneumonia, it was an unbelievable performance.

“It was a struggle to get him to Cheltenham in time and then to get run out of it in the shadow of the post was gutting. But you can’t be anything but very proud of the horse.

“Derek O’Connor gave him a fantastic ride and just blamed the omission of the third last for his defeat. That would have give him the chance to get a breather and would have probably seen him up the hill.

“Pendra has been a huge part of Hull Farm for the past five years and to run that race off 11st 12lbs was a great achievement.”