Sun Alliance Novices Chase 2004 Cheltenham Result
Rule Supreme upset the odds to claim victory in the Royal & SunAlliance Novices Chase. The horse, ridden by David Casey, came in at 25-1, beating the well-fancied Our Vic and Tony McCoy, who eventually finished third.
In a race run at a strong enough gallop, Rule Supreme came from well off the pace to score. Last but one at the top of the hill, he made relentless progress on the descent and forged home up the final climb. Stamina and stamina alone won him the prize. Quite what would have happened had Royal Emperor's rider not lost his whip is open to question. Given the hype surrounding Our Vic, the hot favourite was ultimately disappointing. Perhaps surprisingly ridden very close to the pace, given that he had run a screamer in the two-mile William Hill National Hunt Handicap, he blundered at the first, ran freely down the first hill and then made several minor mistakes.
