Times Up storms to Lonsdale Cup victory

Times Up pulls clear of High Jinx and Lost In The Moment to win the Weatherbys Insurance Lonsdale Cup at York this afternoon. Image courtesy of racingfotos.com.

Times Up finally won a big one at York this afternoon, coming with a powerful late run to win the Weatherbys Insurance Lonsdale Cup, race four in the QIPCO British Champions Series Long Distance division, by two and a quarter lengths for jockey of the moment William Buick and trainer John Dunlop.

Buick, who won yesterday’s QIPCO British Champions Series race on Ortensia, settled Times Up at the back of the field while the favourite, Saddler’s Rock, who had finished a long way in front of Times Up in the Artemis Goodwood Cup earlier in the month, set the pace.

Clearly ill at ease on the rain-softened ground, Saddler’s Rock was beaten fully three furlongs from home at which point the Godolphin pair of Cavalryman and Lost In The Moment appeared to be going the best.

Further back, however, Buick was stoking up Times Up who came with a unstoppable run to take it up inside the final furlong and pull clear.

High Jinx stayed on really well for second in his first run over a longer trip, with Lost In The Moment and Cavalryman in third and fourth respectively. Saddler’s Rock was beaten a long way in ninth.

The QIPCO British Champions Long Distance at Ascot on QIPCO British Champions Day, Saturday 20 October, could now beckon for Times Up.

The winning trainer said: "I couldn’t be more delighted. We’ve not had enough winners this season, but this is grand.

"He likes it here. I was surprised with the tactics employed on Saddler’s Rock and the ground worried me beforehand.

"A flat, left-handed track is perfect for him.

"William said he had to take a pull halfway up the run-in and he’s done it nicely.

"There’s a very limited programme for the stayers. He may go to France or the race at Ascot on Champions Day."

The successful jockey said: "He travelled so well, I got a nice lead and he’s won very easily. It was just a case of not getting there too soon.

"He’s come back to his best. All he does is travel and he’s picked up very well. He’s got quite a lot of speed for a stayer.

"He’s surprised me and it’s a very nice spare ride to get."

That victory takes Buick to 110 points in the Jockey of the Series table, just five points behind the one time runaway leader, Joseph O’Brien.