Unbeaten GERRI COLOMBE lands Grade 1 Scilly Isles at Sandown

Gerri Colombe justified his position as 10-11 Favourite and made it seven wins from as many starts when triumphant in the highlight of Virgin Bet Contenders Day at Sandown Park on Saturday, the Grade One Virgin Bet Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase.

The seven year old arrived at the Esher venue on the back of a Grade One success at Limerick over Christmas and was settled towards the rear of the five-runner field in the early stages of the two and a half mile contest by jockey Jordan Gainford. After making progress to take the lead at the ninth fence, the market leader was joined and then headed by Balco Coastal approaching two out. Rallying to regain the lead at the last, the son of Saddler Maker stayed on well to score by a length and three quarters.

The Gordon Elliott-trained Gerri Colombe becomes just the second Irish raider to win the Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase, which was first run in 1964, after Gitane Du Berlais (2015).

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