Give It To Me Oj tastes Final glory at Sandown

Gary and Josh Moore’s Give It To Me Oj defied top weight in the bet365 Novices’ Championship Final Handicap Hurdle at Sandown.

The four-year-old won a minor event at Newbury in February which qualified him for this race before finishing a fine fourth in an Aintree Grade One, for which he went up 15lb in the handicap.

A winner at long odds-on last weekend at Huntingdon, Give It To Me Oj (20-1) travelled sweetly for Caoilin Quinn, who delivered him to challenge on the run to the last and held off Mythical Moon to win by three-quarters of a length, with Fasol back in third.

Gary Moore said: “I was worried he wasn’t very well handicapped off his mark on what he did at Liverpool, so when I ran him last week I thought at least he will either have two wins to his name or if he gets beat, he would be dropped with this race in the back of my mind.

“He has always been a nice horse and he has kind of exceeded all expectations today for a four-year-old to carry 12st and it was quite a good performance. Probably the handicapper got it right again and had him on the right mark.

“He will stick to hurdles and I want to give him a break now, but he could go back on the Flat. We’ll see how he comes out of today.

“His handicap mark will decide where he goes now and one that comes into the back of my mind, if not a handicap, would be the Masterson Holdings at Cheltenham.”

The Moores and Quinn then doubled up in the bet365 Josh Gifford Novices’ Handicap Chase with Mark Of Gold (11-1), who collared long-time leader Mahons Glory on the run in to win by three-quarters of a length.

Mahons Glory lost many lengths by repeatedly jumping out to his left.

Gary Moore said: “This horse is unbelievable what he’s done. A great bunch of people own him and it’s great for Stevie Fisher.

“Him and Caoilin get on amazingly well and they are made for each other. It was a great riding performance again today and a great performance from the horse.

“His handicap mark has meant he’s had to run in some tough races this year and a bit like the horse in the first, I thought he was badly handicapped, but if he got beat he might come down a pound or two.

“It’s brilliant and we’ve made no secret of the fact we’ve had a moderate season, but it’s a shame it is going to end now.”